JCP RECEIVABLES INC
S-1, 1998-09-29
PERSONAL CREDIT INSTITUTIONS
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<PAGE>
 
  AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON SEPTEMBER 29, 1998
 
                                                      REGISTRATION NO. 333-
 
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
 
                                ---------------
 
                                   FORM S-1
                            REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                          THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
 
                                ---------------
 
                         JCP MASTER CREDIT CARD TRUST
                         (ISSUER OF THE CERTIFICATES)
 
                             JCP RECEIVABLES, INC.
                  (ORIGINATOR OF THE TRUST DESCRIBED HEREIN)
            (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
 
         DELAWARE                    6141                    75-2231415
     (STATE OR OTHER          (PRIMARY STANDARD            (IRS EMPLOYER
     JURISDICTION OF              INDUSTRIAL            IDENTIFICATION NO.)
     INCORPORATION OR      CLASSIFICATION CODE NO.)
      ORGANIZATION)
 
                       6501 LEGACY DRIVE, MAIL STOP 1318
                              PLANO, TEXAS 75024
                                (972) 431-2082
         (ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING
            AREA CODE, OF REGISTRANT'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)
 
                                ---------------
 
                            CHARLES R. LOTTER, ESQ.
                    EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, SECRETARY AND
                                GENERAL COUNSEL
                          J. C. PENNEY COMPANY, INC.
                               6501 LEGACY DRIVE
                              PLANO, TEXAS 75024
                                (972) 431-1000
           (NAME, ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER,
                  INCLUDING AREA CODE, OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)
 
                                ---------------
 
                                  COPIES TO:
 
       JEFFREY J. VAWRINEK, ESQ.             JAMES S. STRINGFELLOW, ESQ.
      J. C. PENNEY COMPANY, INC.        SKADDEN, ARPS, SLATE, MEAGHER & FLOM
   6501 LEGACY DRIVE, MAIL STOP 1103                     LLP
          PLANO, TEXAS 75024                      919 THIRD AVENUE
                                              NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10022
 
                                ---------------
 
  APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC: As soon as
practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective.
 
  If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on
a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act,
check the following box. [_]
 
  If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and
list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective
registration statement for the same offering. [_]
 
  If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c)
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering. [_]
 
  If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d)
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering. [_]
 
  If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
check the following box. [_]
 
                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
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- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                          PROPOSED
                                             PROPOSED     MAXIMUM
                                 AMOUNT      MAXIMUM     AGGREGATE   AMOUNT OF
   TITLE OF EACH CLASS OF        TO BE    OFFERING PRICE  OFFERING  REGISTRATION
 SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED   REGISTERED  PER UNIT(1)    PRICE(1)      FEE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                            <C>        <C>            <C>        <C>
Class A Asset Backed
 Certificates, Series E......  $1,000,000      100%      $1,000,000     $295
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class B Asset Backed
 Certificates, Series E......  $1,000,000      100%      $1,000,000     $295
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 TOTAL.......................  $2,000,000      100%      $2,000,000     $590
</TABLE>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1)Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee.
 
  THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT
SHALL FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS
REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH
SECTION 8(A) OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID
SECTION 8(A), MAY DETERMINE.
 
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
 
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS SUBJECT TO COMPLETION OR AMENDMENT. A         +
+REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING TO THESE SECURITIES HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE   +
+SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD NOR MAY  +
+OFFERS TO BUY BE ACCEPTED PRIOR TO THE TIME THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT        +
+BECOMES EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR   +
+THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE OF THESE      +
+SECURITIES IN ANY STATE IN WHICH SUCH OFFER, SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE    +
+UNLAWFUL PRIOR TO REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF  +
+ANY SUCH STATE.                                                               +
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
                SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED SEPTEMBER 29, 1998
 
PROSPECTUS
 
                                   $
 
                          JCP MASTER CREDIT CARD TRUST
 
              $      % Class A Asset Backed Certificates, Series E
 
              $      % Class B Asset Backed Certificates, Series E
 
                             JCP RECEIVABLES, INC.
                            Originator of the Trust
 
                           J. C. PENNEY COMPANY, INC.
                          Servicer of the Receivables
                                    -------
Each    % Class A Asset  Backed Certificate, Series E (collectively, the "Class
A Certificates")  and each      % Class  B Asset  Backed Certificate,  Series E
(collectively,  the  "Class B  Certificates"  and, together  with  the Class  A
Certificates,  the "Certificates") will represent an undivided interest  in the
 JCP Master Credit  Card Trust  (the "Trust") which  was formed  pursuant to  a
 Master Pooling and Servicing Agreement  among JCP Receivables, Inc. ("JCPR"),
 as the  seller of  the Certificates and  the originator  of the Trust,  J. C.
 Penney Company,  Inc. ("JCPenney"), as servicer (the  "Servicer"), and      ,
 as  trustee  (the "Trustee"),  as  supplemented by  the Series  E  Supplement
  relating  to  the  Certificates   (together,  the  "Pooling  and   Servicing
  Agreement"). Concurrently with the  issuance of the Certificates, the Trust
  will issue the  Class C Investor Interest, Series E  (the "Class C Investor
  Interest")  in the initial  amount of $   ,  which will be  subordinated to
   the Certificates as  described herein. Only the  Class A Certificates  and
   the Class B  Certificates are being  offered hereby. The  property of  the
   Trust  includes   a  portfolio   of  JCPenney  credit   card  receivables
   ("Receivables")  generated,  or  to be  generated,  by  JCPenney and  its
   affiliates  in the ordinary course of  business and all monies  due or to
    become due  in respect  of  the Receivables.  The Trust  has  previously
    issued  four  other  series  of  certificates  that  evidence  undivided
    interests in  the Trust, two  of which are  currently outstanding. JCPR
    owns  the remaining undivided interest in the  Trust not represented by
     the Certificates,  the  Class  C  Investor  Interest  or  certificates
     relating to such other series issued by the Trust. From  time to time,
     JCPR may offer other  series (each, a "Series"), which may have  terms
     significantly  different from the  terms of the  Certificates and the
     Class  C Investor Interest,  by exchanging a portion  of its interest
      in  the  Trust for  the  certificates  of  such  other  Series.  The
      certificates of any  such other Series evidence undivided  interests
      in certain assets of the Trust.
 
Interest on the Class A Certificates will accrue  at the rate of    % per annum
(the  "Class A Certificate  Rate"). Interest on the  Class B Certificates  will
 accrue at  the  rate  of   %  per  annum (the  "Class  B  Certificate Rate").
 Interest  with respect to  the Certificates will  be distributed on  the 15th
  day of each  month or,  if such 15th  day is  not a business  day, the  next
  succeeding  business day  (each, a  "Distribution Date"),  commencing     ,
  1998. Principal on  the Class A Certificates is scheduled to be distributed
   on each  Distribution Date commencing  on the       Distribution Date and
   ending  on  the       Distribution  Date (the  "Class  A  Expected  Final
    Distribution Date"),  but may  be paid  earlier or  later under  certain
    limited  circumstances  described  herein.  Principal on  the  Class  B
     Certificates is scheduled  to be distributed  on the      Distribution
     Date (the  "Class B  Expected Final  Distribution Date"), but  may be
     paid  earlier or later under certain  limited circumstances described
      herein.
 
 The Certificates initially will be  represented by Certificates which will be
   registered in the name of Cede & Co., the nominee of The Depository Trust
     Company. The  interests  of holders  of beneficial  interests  in the
      Certificates  ("Certificate Owners")  will be  represented by  book
        entries  on the  records of  The Depository  Trust Company  and
          participating members thereof. Definitive Certificates will
            be  available  to  Certificate Owners  only  under  the
             limited    circumstances   described   herein.    See
               "Description of the  Certificates and the Pooling
                 and      Servicing      Agreement--Definitive
                  Certificates."
 
 There currently is no market for the Certificates, and there is no assurance
  that one will develop or, if one does develop, that it will continue until 
                      the Certificates are paid in full.
 
FOR A DISCUSSION OF CERTAIN FACTORS THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED IN CONNECTION WITH
   AN INVESTMENT IN THE CERTIFICATES, SEE "RISK FACTORS" ON PAGE 15 HEREIN.
 
 THE CERTIFICATES REPRESENT UNDIVIDED INTERESTS IN THE TRUST AND DO NOT REPRE-
  SENT INTERESTS IN OR OBLIGATIONS OF  JCPR, JCPENNEY OR ANY AFFILIATE THERE-
   OF, EXCEPT  TO THE EXTENT  DESCRIBED HEREIN. A  CERTIFICATE IS NOT  A DE-
    POSIT  AND NEITHER THE CERTIFICATES NOR THE UNDERLYING ACCOUNTS  OR RE-
      CEIVABLES OR ANY  COLLECTIONS THEREON ARE  INSURED OR GUARANTEED  BY
       THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMEN-
        TAL AGENCY OR INSTRUMENTALITY.
 
  THESE SECURITIES  HAVE NOT BEEN  APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED  BY THE SECURITIES
    AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY  STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE
       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMIS-
         SION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS.
           ANY  REPRESENTATION TO  THE  CONTRARY IS  A CRIMINAL  OF-
              FENSE.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                      UNDERWRITING
                                            PRICE TO  DISCOUNTS AND PROCEEDS TO
                                            PUBLIC(1)  COMMISSIONS   JCPR(1)(2)
                                            --------- ------------- ------------
<S>                                         <C>       <C>           <C>
Per Class A Certificate....................       %           %            %
Per Class B Certificate....................       %           %            %
Total......................................    $           $            $
</TABLE>
(1) Plus accrued interest, if any, at the Class A Certificate Rate or the Class
    B Certificate Rate, as applicable, from       , 1998.
(2) Before deduction of expenses payable by JCPR estimated at $   .
 
  The Certificates are offered by the Underwriter when, as and if issued and
accepted by the Underwriter and subject to its right to reject orders in whole
or in part. It is expected that the Certificates will be delivered in book-
entry form on or about       , 1998, through the facilities of The Depository
Trust Company, Cedel Bank, societe anonyme and the Euroclear System.
 
                           CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON
 
                         Prospectus dated       , 1998
<PAGE>
 
  CERTAIN PERSONS PARTICIPATING IN THIS OFFERING MAY ENGAGE IN TRANSACTIONS
THAT STABILIZE, MAINTAIN, OR OTHERWISE AFFECT THE PRICE OF THE SECURITIES
OFFERED HEREBY, INCLUDING OVER-ALLOTMENT, STABILIZING TRANSACTIONS, SYNDICATE
SHORT COVERING TRANSACTIONS AND PENALTY BIDS. FOR A DESCRIPTION OF THESE
ACTIVITIES, SEE "UNDERWRITING."
 
                             AVAILABLE INFORMATION
 
  JCPR, as originator of the Trust, has filed a Registration Statement under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") with respect to the
Certificates offered pursuant to this Prospectus. This Prospectus, which forms
a part of the Registration Statement, omits certain information contained in
such Registration Statement pursuant to the rules and regulations of the
Commission. For further information, reference is made to the Registration
Statement and amendments thereof and exhibits thereto, which are available for
inspection without charge at the public reference facilities maintained by the
Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Room 1024, Washington, D.C. 20549; Seven
World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048; and 500 West Madison Street,
Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661, or through the Web site maintained by the
Commission at (http://www.sec.gov). Copies of the Registration Statement and
amendments thereof and exhibits thereto may be obtained from the Public
Reference Section of the Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington,
D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates. The Trust is subject to the informational
requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange
Act"), and in accordance therewith, JCPR, on behalf of the Trust, files
reports and other information with the Commission. Copies of such reports and
other information with respect to the Trust can be inspected and copied at the
public reference facilities maintained by the Commission referred to above.
 
                         REPORTS TO CERTIFICATEHOLDERS
 
  Unless and until Definitive Certificates (as hereinafter defined) are
issued, monthly and annual reports, containing information concerning the
Trust and prepared by the Servicer, will be sent on behalf of the Trust to
Cede & Co., as registered holder of the Certificates, pursuant to the Pooling
and Servicing Agreement. See "Description of the Certificates and the Pooling
and Servicing Agreement--Book-Entry Registration," "--Reports to
Certificateholders" and "--Evidence as to Compliance." Such reports will not
constitute financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles. JCPR does not intend to send any of its financial
reports to Certificate Owners.
 
 
                                       2
<PAGE>
 
                               PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
 
  The following summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the
detailed information appearing elsewhere in this Prospectus. Certain
capitalized terms which are used herein are defined elsewhere in this
Prospectus. See "Index of Key Terms." Unless the context otherwise requires,
certain capitalized terms, when used herein, only relate to the Certificates.
Other Series which may be issued pursuant to other similar prospectuses or
disclosure documents may also use such capitalized terms in such prospectuses
or documents. However, in such cases, reference to such terms will, unless the
context otherwise requires, only be made in the context of the issuance of such
other Series.
 
Trust.......................  JCP Master Credit Card Trust ("Trust") was formed
                              pursuant to the Pooling and Servicing Agreement.
                              The property of the Trust includes a portfolio of
                              Receivables generated or to be generated by
                              JCPenney and its affiliates in the ordinary
                              course of business and arising under designated
                              credit card accounts ("Accounts") in the
                              portfolio (the "JCPenney Portfolio") of accounts
                              (the "JCPenney credit card accounts") of JCPenney
                              Card Bank, National Association, a wholly owned
                              subsidiary of JCPenney ("JCP Card Bank"), all
                              monies due or to become due in respect of the
                              Receivables, all proceeds of the Receivables and
                              proceeds of credit insurance policies relating to
                              the Receivables and all monies on deposit in
                              certain bank accounts of the Trust. JCP Card
                              Bank, through JCPenney, has sold or transferred
                              to JCPR, and JCPR has transferred to the Trust,
                              all Receivables arising in the Accounts.
 
Securities Offered..........  Each of the Certificates offered hereby
                              represents an undivided interest in the Trust.
                              Each such Certificate represents the right to
                              receive payments of interest at the rate as
                              specified on the cover page hereof, and payments
                              of principal during the Controlled Amortization
                              Period or the Rapid Amortization Period (each as
                              hereinafter defined), which will be funded from a
                              varying percentage of the payments received with
                              respect to the Receivables. JCPR may, at its
                              option, repurchase the Certificates on any
                              Distribution Date on or after the month following
                              the Class B Expected Final Distribution Date. The
                              interest of the holders of the Class A
                              Certificates (the "Class A Certificateholders")
                              in the Trust (the "Class A Investor Interest")
                              will initially equal $   . The interest of the
                              holders of the Class B Certificates (the "Class B
                              Certificateholders" and, together with the Class
                              A Certificateholders, the "Certificateholders")
                              in the Trust (the "Class B Investor Interest")
                              will initially equal $   . The interest of the
                              holder of the Class C Investor Interest (the
                              "Class C Interest Holder") in the Trust (the
                              "Class C Investor Interest" and, together with
                              the Class A Investor Interest and the Class B
                              Investor Interest, the "Investor Interest" or the
                              "Investor Amount") will initially equal $   . The
                              Investor Interest will decline as principal is
                              paid to the Certificateholders during the
                              Controlled Amortization Period or the Rapid
                              Amortization Period, as the case
 
                                       3
<PAGE>
 
                              may be. JCPR owns the remaining undivided
                              interest in the Principal Receivables (as
                              hereinafter defined) in the Trust not represented
                              by the Certificates, the Class C Investor
                              Interest or certificates of another Series ("JCPR
                              Amount"). The Certificates will be issued
                              pursuant to an Exchange (as hereinafter defined)
                              as provided for in the Pooling and Servicing
                              Agreement. See "Description of the Certificates
                              and the Pooling and Servicing Agreement." The
                              Certificates represent interests in the Trust and
                              do not represent interests in or obligations of
                              JCPR, JCPenney or any affiliate thereof, except
                              to the extent provided herein. None of the
                              Certificates, the Accounts, the Receivables or
                              any collections thereon are insured or guaranteed
                              by JCPR, JCPenney or any affiliate of either or
                              by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the
                              "FDIC") or any other governmental agency or
                              instrumentality.
 
                              The Class C Investor Interest is not being
                              offered hereby and is expected to be initially
                              retained by JCPR. JCPR reserves the right to sell
                              the Class C Investor Interest at any time.
 
                              As of the date hereof, the Trust has two other
                              issued and outstanding Series of certificates:
                              (1) its 8.95% Asset Backed Certificates, Series B
                              ("Series B Certificates") having an initial
                              principal amount of $350,000,000; and (2) its
                              9.625% Asset Backed Certificates, Series C
                              ("Series C Certificates") having an initial
                              principal amount of $375,000,000.
 
Accounts and Receivables....  The Accounts currently consist of substantially
                              all the United States JCPenney credit card
                              accounts in Cycles One, Two, Three and Four (four
                              of the 10 billing cycles for JCPenney credit card
                              accounts) that satisfied the criteria provided in
                              the Pooling and Servicing Agreement as of the
                              applicable cut-off date (the "Addition Date").
                              The Accounts include JCPenney credit card
                              accounts originated by JCP Card Bank in which
                              JCPenney has purchased the Receivables arising
                              thereunder but do not include commercial accounts
                              and accounts serviced by third parties in Puerto
                              Rico, Mexico and Chile. Additional accounts added
                              to such Cycles in the normal operation of
                              JCPenney's credit card business and satisfying
                              the criteria provided in the Pooling and
                              Servicing Agreement are expected to be added to
                              the Trust on a daily basis as a category of
                              Additional Accounts (as hereinafter defined). The
                              Receivables arising in the Accounts and the
                              Additional Accounts (regardless of which category
                              of such Accounts) consist of amounts charged by
                              cardholders for merchandise and services
                              (excluding insurance other than credit insurance)
                              purchased from JCPenney and its affiliates
                              ("Principal Receivables"), plus the related
                              finance charges, amounts, if any, charged to the
                              Accounts in respect of late charges and returned
                              check fees and similar fees and charges
                              (collectively, the "Finance Charge Receivables")
                              and recoveries (net of estimated recovery
                              expenses) of Receivables charged off pursuant to
                              the Pooling and Servicing Agreement
                              ("Recoveries"). The Receivables
 
                                       4
<PAGE>
 
                              arising from the Accounts as of the beginning of
                                 , 1998 totaled $    in Principal Receivables
                              and $   in Finance Charge Receivables. The
                              Finance Charge Receivables and Receivables in
                              Defaulted Accounts (as hereinafter defined) have
                              been or will be conveyed to the Trust but will
                              not affect the Investor Amount or the JCPR
                              Amount, each of which is determined on the basis
                              of the amount of Principal Receivables in the
                              Trust.
 
                              Under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement, the
                              Servicer may estimate the amounts of Principal
                              Receivables and Finance Charge Receivables and
                              allocate collections in respect thereof using a
                              formula that assumes generally that, for all
                              accounts within a particular billing cycle, a pro
                              rata portion of the Finance Charge Receivables
                              billed on a given cycle billing date is received
                              on each processing day during such period. The
                              determination of the amount of Finance Charge
                              Receivables in the Accounts as of the Addition
                              Date was made on the same basis. Any such
                              estimates are binding for all purposes on the
                              Certificateholders, the Trustee and JCPR. See
                              "Description of the Certificates and the Pooling
                              and Servicing Agreement--Investor Percentage and
                              JCPR Percentage."
 
                              JCPR has entered into a Receivables Purchase
                              Agreement dated as of September 5, 1988, as
                              amended, between JCPR, as purchaser, and
                              JCPenney, as seller (together with any
                              supplements thereto, the "Receivables Purchase
                              Agreement"). Pursuant to the Receivables Purchase
                              Agreement, JCPenney has sold or transferred to
                              JCPR all its right, title and interest in and to
                              the Receivables arising in the Accounts. JCPR in
                              turn has transferred such Receivables to the
                              Trust pursuant to the Pooling and Servicing
                              Agreement. JCPR has also assigned to the Trust
                              its rights with respect to the Receivables under
                              the Receivables Purchase Agreement. See
                              "Description of the Receivables Purchase
                              Agreement."
 
                              Subject to certain conditions, JCPR has the right
                              to add accounts ("Additional Accounts") to, or
                              remove accounts ("Removed Accounts") from, the
                              Accounts from time to time. The total amount of
                              Receivables in the Trust fluctuates from day to
                              day because the amount of new Receivables arising
                              in the Accounts and the amount of payments
                              collected on existing Receivables usually differ
                              each day. Because the JCPR Amount represents the
                              interest in the Principal Receivables in the
                              Trust not represented by the Certificates, the
                              Class C Investor Interest or certificates of
                              other Series, the JCPR Amount fluctuates from day
                              to day as Receivables are collected and new
                              Receivables are transferred to the Trust and as
                              Receivables from Additional Accounts and
                              Receivables from Removed Accounts are added to
                              and removed from the Trust. See "The Accounts."
                              The aggregate undivided interest in the Principal
                              Receivables in the Trust evidenced by the
                              Certificates and the Class C Investor Interest
                              will never exceed the Investor Amount regardless
                              of the total amount of Principal Receivables in
                              the Trust.
 
                                       5
<PAGE>
 
 
Denominations...............  The Certificates will be offered for purchase in
                              denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples
                              thereof.
 
Registration of               The Certificates will initially be represented by
Certificates................  Certificates registered in the name of Cede & Co.
                              ("Cede"), as the nominee of The Depository Trust
                              Company ("DTC"). No Certificate Owner will be
                              entitled to receive a definitive certificate
                              representing such person's interest, except if
                              Definitive Certificates (as hereinafter defined)
                              are issued under the limited circumstances
                              described herein. All references herein to
                              "Certificateholders" shall refer to Certificate
                              Owners, except as otherwise specified herein. See
                              "Description of the Certificates and the Pooling
                              and Servicing Agreement--Definitive
                              Certificates."
 
Exchanges...................  The Pooling and Servicing Agreement provides that
                              the Trust will issue two types of certificates:
                              (1) one or more Series of certificates that will
                              be transferable and have the characteristics
                              described below and (2) the Exchangeable
                              Certificate, which will evidence the JCPR Amount
                              and which will initially be held by JCPR and will
                              generally not be transferable, except that
                              certain interests therein may be transferred to
                              JCPenney pursuant to the Receivables Purchase
                              Agreement or to affiliates of JCPenney. See
                              "Description of the Receivables Purchase
                              Agreement." The Pooling and Servicing Agreement
                              also provides that, pursuant to any one or more
                              supplements to the Pooling and Servicing
                              Agreement (each, a "Supplement"), JCPR may
                              deliver the Exchangeable Certificate to the
                              Trustee in exchange for one or more new Series
                              and a reissued Exchangeable Certificate (any such
                              exchange, an "Exchange"). Under the Pooling and
                              Servicing Agreement, JCPR may define, with
                              respect to any Series, certain terms of the
                              Series. JCPR may offer any Series to the public
                              or other investors. The Certificates, together
                              with the Class C Investor Interest (collectively,
                              "Series E"), will be the fifth Series to be
                              offered by the Trust. Set forth under
                              "Description of the Certificates and the Pooling
                              and Servicing Agreement--Prior Issuance of
                              Certificates Outstanding" is a chart which
                              provides the principal terms and other relevant
                              characteristics of the Series B and Series C
                              Certificates which are the Series previously
                              issued by the Trust currently outstanding. JCPR
                              may offer, from time to time, additional Series
                              to be issued by the Trust.
 
                              Under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement and
                              pursuant to a Supplement, an Exchange may occur
                              only upon delivery to the Trustee of the
                              following: (a) a Supplement in form satisfactory
                              to the Trustee signed by JCPR and JCPenney and
                              specifying certain terms of such Series, (b) any
                              form of credit enhancement required by such
                              Supplement, (c) if any form of credit enhancement
                              is required by such Supplement, an appropriate
                              agreement with respect thereto, (d) letters from
                              each Rating Agency confirming that the issuance
                              of the new Series will not result in the
                              reduction or withdrawal of its rating of any
                              prior outstanding Series, (e) an
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
 
                              opinion of counsel to the effect that the
                              certificates of such Series under existing law
                              should be characterized as indebtedness of JCPR
                              for federal income tax purposes and (f) the
                              existing Exchangeable Certificate. These
                              documents will be delivered to the Trustee prior
                              to the issuance of the Certificates. See "Risk
                              Factors--Additional Series."
 
Seller and Servicer.........  JCPR, which is the seller of the Certificates,
                              the originator of the Trust and the transferor of
                              the Receivables, is an indirect, wholly owned,
                              limited purpose subsidiary of JCPenney. JCPenney,
                              as Servicer, services the Receivables for the
                              Trust pursuant to the Pooling and Servicing
                              Agreement.
 
Collections.................  The Servicer deposits all collections of
                              Receivables for all Series in an account
                              established for such purpose ("Collection
                              Account"); provided, however, that, subject to
                              certain conditions, JCPenney, as Servicer, is
                              generally permitted to retain all such
                              collections for its own use until two business
                              days preceding each Distribution Date. All
                              amounts deposited in the Collection Account are
                              allocated by the Servicer between amounts
                              collected in respect of Principal Receivables and
                              amounts collected in respect of Finance Charge
                              Receivables, in each case based on the estimating
                              procedures described herein. Such amounts are
                              then allocated among each Series and JCPR based
                              upon the Series' relative investor amounts and
                              the JCPR Amount. See "Description of the
                              Certificates and the Pooling and Servicing
                              Agreement--Applications of Collections."
 
Interest....................  Interest on the Certificates will be distributed
                              monthly on each Distribution Date, commencing
                                  , 1998, at the applicable Class A Certificate
                              Rate or Class B Certificate Rate. Interest is
                              calculated on the basis of a 360-day year
                              comprised of twelve 30-day months and, in the
                              case of the first Monthly Period (as hereinafter
                              defined), will accrue from     , 1998 (the
                              "Closing Date"). Interest payments are funded
                              from the portion of Finance Charge Receivables
                              and Net Recoveries, if any, collected during the
                              preceding month allocable to the Investor Amount,
                              and, if necessary, from certain other amounts.
                              See "--Subordination of the Class B Certificates
                              and the Class C Investor Interest" and "--
                              Additional Amounts Available to
                              Certificateholders." The term "Net Recoveries"
                              means, with respect to any Monthly Period, the
                              excess, if any, of Recoveries collected during
                              such month over the aggregate amount of
                              Receivables in Defaulted Accounts (as hereinafter
                              defined) charged off during such Monthly Period.
                              See "Description of the Certificates and the
                              Pooling and Servicing Agreement."
 
Revolving Period............  The "Revolving Period" with respect to the
                              Certificates means the period from and including
                              the Closing Date to, but not including, the
                              earlier of (a) the commencement of the Controlled
                              Amortization Period or (b) the commencement of
                              the Rapid Amortization
 
                                       7
<PAGE>
 
                              Period. The controlled amortization period with
                              respect to the Certificates (the "Controlled
                              Amortization Period") is scheduled to begin at
                              the end of the day on    ,   . During the
                              Revolving Period, collections of Principal
                              Receivables allocable to the Investor Interest
                              will be paid from the Trust to JCPR (or, in
                              certain circumstances, to the Class C Interest
                              Holder) rather than to the Certificateholders.
                              See "Description of the Certificates and the
                              Pooling and Servicing Agreement."
 
Controlled Amortization       Unless a Pay Out Event has occurred, the
Period......................  Controlled Amortization Period will begin at the
                              close of business on the last day of the
                              Revolving Period and will end on the earlier of
                              (i) the commencement of the Rapid Amortization
                              Period or (ii) the payment of the Investor
                              Interest in full. During the Controlled
                              Amortization Period, amounts equal to the least
                              of (a) Available Investor Principal Collections
                              for the related Monthly Period, (b) the sum of
                              the applicable Controlled Amortization Amount for
                              such Monthly Period and the applicable Deficit
                              Controlled Amortization Amount, if any (such
                              applicable sum, the "Controlled Distribution
                              Amount") and (c) the sum of the Class A Investor
                              Amount and the Class B Investor Amount on the
                              applicable Transfer Date will be distributed
                              monthly on each Distribution Date beginning with
                              the Distribution Date in the month following the
                              commencement of the Controlled Amortization
                              Period, first to the Class A Certificateholders
                              and, following payment of the Class A Investor
                              Interest in full, to the Class B
                              Certificateholders until the Class B Investor
                              Interest has been paid in full. The "Transfer
                              Date" with respect to any Distribution Date is
                              the business day preceding such Distribution
                              Date. If, for any Monthly Period, the Available
                              Investor Principal Collections for such Monthly
                              Period exceed the applicable Controlled
                              Distribution Amount, any such excess will be
                              first paid to the Class C Interest Holder to the
                              extent that the Class C Investor Amount exceeds
                              the Required Class C Investor Amount or, subject
                              to certain limitations, paid to JCPR. If, for any
                              Monthly Period, the Available Investor Principal
                              Collections for such Monthly Period are less than
                              the applicable Controlled Distribution Amount,
                              the amount of such deficiency will be the
                              applicable "Deficit Controlled Amortization
                              Amount" for the succeeding Monthly Period.
 
                              If a Pay Out Event occurs during the Controlled
                              Amortization Period, the Rapid Amortization
                              Period will commence.
 
                              Other Series offered by the Trust may or may not
                              have amortization periods like the Controlled
                              Amortization Period, and such periods may have
                              different lengths and begin on different dates
                              than the Controlled Amortization Period. Thus,
                              certain Series may be in their revolving periods
                              while others are in periods during which
                              collections of Principal Receivables are
                              distributed to or held for the benefit of
                              certificateholders of such other Series.
 
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
 
Rapid Amortization Period...  During the period from the day on which a Pay Out
                              Event has occurred and ending on the earlier of
                              (a) the payment of the Investor Amount in full or
                              (b) the date on which Series E terminates (the
                              "Rapid Amortization Period"), Available Investor
                              Principal Collections will be distributed monthly
                              on each Distribution Date first to the Class A
                              Certificateholders and, following payment of the
                              Class A Investor Interest in full, to the Class B
                              Certificateholders and, following payment of the
                              Class B Investor Interest in full, to the Class C
                              Interest Holder beginning with the Distribution
                              Date in the month following the commencement of
                              the Rapid Amortization Period. See "Description
                              of the Certificates and the Pooling and Servicing
                              Agreements--Investor Percentage and JCPR
                              Percentage" and "--Pay Out Events."
 
Subordination of the Class
B Certificates and the
Class C Investor Interest...
                              The Class B Certificates and the Class C Investor
                              Interest will be subordinated, as described
                              herein, to the extent necessary to fund payments
                              with respect to the Class A Certificates as
                              described herein. In addition, the Class C
                              Investor Interest will be subordinated to the
                              extent necessary to fund certain payments with
                              respect to the Class A Certificates and the Class
                              B Certificates. If the Class C Investor Interest
                              is reduced to zero, the Class B
                              Certificateholders will bear directly the credit
                              and other risks associated with their interest in
                              the Trust. To the extent the Class B Investor
                              Interest is reduced, the percentage of
                              collections of Finance Charge Receivables
                              allocable to the Class B Certificateholders in
                              subsequent Monthly Periods will be reduced.
                              Moreover, to the extent the amount of such
                              reduction in the Class B Investor Interest is not
                              reimbursed, the amount of principal and interest
                              distributable to the Class B Certificateholders
                              will be reduced. Such reductions of the Class B
                              Investor Interest will thereafter be reimbursed
                              and the Class B Investor Interest increased on
                              each Transfer Date by the amount, if any, of
                              Excess Spread for such Transfer Date available
                              for that purpose. See "Description of the
                              Certificates and the Pooling and Servicing
                              Agreement--Subordination."
 
Additional Amounts
Available to
Certificateholders..........  With respect to any Transfer Date, Excess Spread
                              will be applied to fund the Class A Required
                              Amount and the Class B Required Amount, if any.
                              The "Class A Required Amount" means the amount,
                              if any, by which the sum of (a) the Class A
                              Monthly Interest due on the related Distribution
                              Date and any overdue Class A Monthly Interest and
                              Class A Additional Interest, if any, (b) the
                              Class A Servicing Fee for the related Monthly
                              Period and any overdue Class A Servicing Fee and
                              (c) the Class A Investor Default Amount, if any,
                              for the related Monthly Period exceeds the Class
                              A Available Funds for the related Monthly Period.
                              The "Class B Required Amount" means the amount,
                              if any, equal to the sum of (a) the amount, if
                              any, by which the sum of (i) Class B Monthly
 
                                       9
<PAGE>
 
                              Interest due on the related Distribution Date and
                              any overdue Class B Monthly Interest and Class B
                              Additional Interest, if any, and (ii) the Class B
                              Servicing Fee for the related Monthly Period and
                              any overdue Class B Servicing Fee exceeds the
                              Class B Available Funds for the related Monthly
                              Period and (b) the Class B Investor Default
                              Amount, if any, for the related Monthly Period.
                              The "Required Amount" for any Monthly Period
                              shall mean the sum of (a) the Class A Required
                              Amount and (b) the Class B Required Amount, each
                              for such Monthly Period. "Excess Spread" for any
                              Transfer Date will equal the sum of (a) the
                              excess of (i) Class A Available Funds for the
                              related Monthly Period over (ii) the sum of the
                              amounts referred to in clauses (a), (b) and (c)
                              in the definition of "Class A Required Amount"
                              above, (b) the excess of (i) Class B Available
                              Funds for the related Monthly Period over (ii)
                              the sum of the amounts referred to in clauses
                              (a)(i) and (a)(ii) in the definition of "Class B
                              Required Amount" above and (c) Class C Available
                              Funds for the related Monthly Period not used
                              under certain circumstances to pay the Class C
                              Servicing Fee, as described herein.
 
                              If, on any Transfer Date, Excess Spread is less
                              than the Class A Required Amount, Reallocated
                              Principal Collections allocable first to the
                              Class C Investor Interest and then to the Class B
                              Investor Interest with respect to the related
                              Monthly Period will be used to fund the remaining
                              Class A Required Amount. If Reallocated Principal
                              Collections with respect to such Monthly Period
                              are insufficient to fund the remaining Class A
                              Required Amount for the related Transfer Date,
                              then the Class C Investor Interest (after giving
                              effect to reductions for any Class C Investor
                              Charge-Offs and any Reallocated Principal
                              Collections on such Transfer Date) will be
                              reduced by the amount of such deficiency (but not
                              by more than the Class A Investor Default Amount
                              for such Monthly Period). In the event that such
                              reduction would cause the Class C Investor
                              Interest to be a negative number, the Class C
                              Investor Interest will be reduced to zero, and
                              the Class B Investor Interest (after giving
                              effect to reductions for any Class B Investor
                              Charge-Offs and Reallocated Class B Principal
                              Collections on such Transfer Date) will be
                              reduced by the amount by which the Class C
                              Investor Interest would have been reduced below
                              zero (but not by more than the excess, if any, of
                              the Class A Investor Default Amount for such
                              Monthly Period over the amount of such reduction,
                              if any, of the Class C Investor Interest with
                              respect to such Monthly Period). In the event
                              that such reduction would cause the Class B
                              Investor Interest to be a negative number, the
                              Class B Investor Interest will be reduced to zero
                              and the Class A Investor Interest will be reduced
                              by the amount by which the Class B Investor
                              Interest would have been reduced below zero (but
                              not by more than the excess of the Class A
                              Investor Default Amount, if any, for such Monthly
                              Period over such reductions in the Class C
                              Investor Interest and the Class B Investor
                              Interest with respect to such Monthly Period)
                              (such reduction, a "Class A Investor Charge-
                              Off"). If the Class C Investor Interest
 
                                       10
<PAGE>
 
                              and the Class B Investor Interest are reduced to
                              zero, the Class A Certificateholders will bear
                              directly the credit and other risks associated
                              with their undivided interest in the Trust. See
                              "Description of the Certificates and the Pooling
                              and Servicing Agreement--Reallocation of Cash
                              Flows" and "--Defaulted Receivables; Rebates."
 
                              If, on any Transfer Date, Excess Spread not
                              required to pay the Class A Required Amount and
                              to reimburse Class A Investor Charge-Offs is less
                              than the Class B Required Amount, Reallocated
                              Principal Collections allocable to the Class C
                              Investor Interest for the related Monthly Period
                              not required to pay the Class A Required Amount
                              will be used to fund the remaining Class B
                              Required Amount. If such remaining Reallocated
                              Principal Collections allocable to the Class C
                              Investor Interest with respect to such Monthly
                              Period are insufficient to fund the remaining
                              Class B Required Amount for the related Transfer
                              Date, then the Class C Investor Interest (after
                              giving effect to reductions for any Class C
                              Investor Charge-Offs, Reallocated Principal
                              Collections and any adjustments made thereto for
                              the benefit of the Class A Certificateholders)
                              will be reduced by the amount of such deficiency
                              (but not by more than the Class B Investor
                              Default Amount for such Monthly Period). In the
                              event that such reduction would cause the Class C
                              Investor Interest to be a negative number, the
                              Class C Investor Interest will be reduced to
                              zero, and the Class B Investor Interest will be
                              reduced by the amount by which the Class C
                              Investor Interest would have been reduced below
                              zero (but not by more than the excess, if any, of
                              the Class B Investor Default Amount for such
                              Monthly Period over such reduction in the Class C
                              Investor Interest with respect to such Monthly
                              Period) (such reduction, a "Class B Investor
                              Charge-Off"). In the event of a reduction of the
                              Class A Investor Interest, the Class B Investor
                              Interest or the Class C Investor Interest, the
                              amount of principal and interest available to
                              fund payments with respect to the Class A
                              Certificates and the Class B Certificates will be
                              decreased. See "Description of the Certificates
                              and the Pooling and Servicing Agreement--
                              Reallocation of Cash Flows" and "--Defaulted
                              Receivables; Rebates."
 
Required Class C Investor     The "Required Class C Investor Interest" means
Interest....................  (a) initially, $    (the "Initial Class C
                              Investor Interest") and (b) with respect to any
                              Transfer Date thereafter, an amount equal to  %
                              of the sum of the Class A Investor Interest and
                              the Class B Investor Interest on such Transfer
                              Date, after taking into account payments to be
                              made on the related Distribution Date, and the
                              Class C Investor Interest on the prior Transfer
                              Date after any adjustments made on such Transfer
                              Date, but not less than $  ; provided, however,
                              that (i) if certain reductions in the Class C
                              Investor Interest occur or if a Pay Out Event
                              occurs, the Required Class C Investor Interest
                              for such Transfer Date shall equal the Required
                              Class C Investor Interest for
 
                                       11
<PAGE>
 
                              the Transfer Date immediately preceding the
                              occurrence of such reduction or Pay Out Event;
                              (ii) in no event shall the Required Class C
                              Investor Interest exceed the unpaid principal
                              amount of the Certificates as of the last day of
                              the Monthly Period preceding such Transfer Date
                              after taking into account payments to be made on
                              the related Distribution Date; and (iii) the
                              Required Class C Investor Interest may be reduced
                              at any time to a lesser amount if the Rating
                              Agency Condition is satisfied. See "Description
                              of the Certificates and the Pooling and Servicing
                              Agreement--Required Class C Investor Interest."
 
                              "Rating Agency Condition" means the notification
                              in writing by each Rating Agency to JCPR, the
                              Servicer and the Trustee that a proposed action
                              will not result in such Rating Agency reducing or
                              withdrawing its then existing rating of the
                              certificates of any outstanding Series or Class
                              of a Series with respect to which it is a Rating
                              Agency.
 
                              If on any Transfer Date, the Class C Investor
                              Interest is less than the Required Class C
                              Investor Interest, certain Excess Spread amounts,
                              if available, will be used to increase the Class
                              C Investor Interest to the extent of such
                              shortfall. If on any Transfer Date the Class C
                              Investor Interest equals or exceeds the Required
                              Class C Investor Interest, any such Excess Spread
                              amounts will be distributed to the Class C
                              Interest Holder and will not be available to the
                              Certificateholders.
 
Repurchase; Final Payment
of Principal;  Mandatory
Termination.................
                              Under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement, JCPR
                              has the option to repurchase the Investor
                              Interest on any Distribution Date on or after the
                              month following the Class B Expected Final
                              Distribution Date. The repurchase price will be
                              equal to 100% of the Investor Interest plus
                              accrued and unpaid interest thereon through the
                              Distribution Date on which the repurchase occurs.
                              In any event, if the Investor Amount is not zero
                              on        ,   , final payment in respect of the
                              Certificates will be required to be made on such
                              date. See "Description of the Certificates and
                              the Pooling and Servicing Agreement--Repurchase;
                              Final Payment of Principal; Termination" and
                              "Description of the Receivables Purchase
                              Agreement--Certain Covenants."
 
Record Date.................  The last business day of the month preceding any
                              Distribution Date.
 
Trustee.....................
 
Tax Status..................  Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, special
                              tax counsel to JCPR, is of the opinion that,
                              under existing law, the Certificates will be
                              characterized as indebtedness for federal income
                              tax
 
                                       12
<PAGE>
 
                              purposes. Under the Pooling and Servicing
                              Agreement, JCPR and the Certificateholders agree
                              to treat the Certificates as debt for income tax
                              purposes. See "Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax
                              Consequences" for additional information
                              concerning the application of federal income tax
                              laws.
 
ERISA Considerations........  Under regulations issued by the Department of
                              Labor, the Trust's assets would not be deemed
                              "plan assets" of an employee benefit plan holding
                              an interest in the Class A Certificates or the
                              Class B Certificates if certain conditions are
                              met, including that interests in such class of
                              Certificates be held by at least 100 persons
                              independent of JCPR and each other upon
                              completion of the public offering of the
                              Certificates. The Underwriter expects, although
                              no assurance can be given, that the Class A
                              Certificates will be held by at least 100 such
                              persons, and JCPR anticipates that the other
                              conditions of the "publicly-offered security"
                              exception contained in the regulations will be
                              met with respect to the Class A Certificates. No
                              monitoring or other measures will be taken to
                              ensure that any such conditions will be satisfied
                              with respect to the Class A Certificates. If the
                              Trust's assets were deemed to be "plan assets" of
                              such a plan, there is uncertainty as to whether
                              existing exemptions from the "prohibited
                              transaction" rules of the Employee Retirement
                              Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA")
                              and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
                              (the "Code") would apply to all transactions
                              involving the Trust's assets. Accordingly,
                              employee benefit plans contemplating purchasing
                              Class A Certificates should consult their own
                              counsel before making such a purchase.
 
                              The Underwriter currently does not expect that
                              the Class B Certificates will be held by at least
                              100 such persons and, therefore, does not expect
                              that the Class B Certificates will qualify as
                              publicly-offered securities under the regulations
                              referred to in the immediately preceding
                              paragraph. Accordingly, the Class B Certificates
                              may not be acquired by (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 (as defined in Section 4975(e)(1) of
                              the Code) that is subject to Section 4975 of the
                              Code, or (iii) any entity whose underlying assets
                              include plan assets by reason of a plan's
                              investment in the entity (including, without
                              limitation, an insurance company general
                              account). By its acceptance of an interest in a
                              Class B Certificate, each Certificate Owner of a
                              Class B Certificate will be deemed to have
                              represented and warranted that it is not subject
                              to the foregoing limitation. See "ERISA
                              Considerations."
 
Class A Certificate           It is a condition to the issuance of the Class A
Rating......................  Certificates that they be rated in the highest
                              rating category by at least one Rating Agency.
                              The rating of the Class A Certificates is based
                              primarily on the value of the Receivables and the
                              terms of the Class B Certificates and the Class C
                              Investor Interest.
 
 
                                       13
<PAGE>
 
Class B Certificate           It is a condition to the issuance of the Class B
Rating......................  Certificates that they receive a rating of at
                              least "A" or its equivalent by at least one
                              Rating Agency. The rating of the Class B
                              Certificates is based primarily on the value of
                              the Receivables and the terms of the Class C
                              Investor Interest.
 
                                       14
<PAGE>
 
                                 RISK FACTORS
 
  Limited Liquidity. There is currently no market for the Certificates. The
Underwriter expects, but is not obligated, to make a market in the
Certificates. There is no assurance that a secondary market will develop or,
if it does develop, that it will provide Certificate Owners with liquidity of
investment or that it will continue until the Certificates are paid in full.
 
  Non-Recourse to JCPenney and JCP Card Bank. No Certificateholder will have
recourse to any assets of JCPenney or JCP Card Bank for payment of the
Certificates. Consequently, Certificateholders must rely solely upon payments
on the Receivables for payment of principal of and interest on the
Certificates. Should the Certificates not be paid in full on a timely basis,
Certificateholders may not look to any assets of JCPenney or JCP Card Bank to
satisfy their claims.
 
  Certain Legal Aspects. JCPenney warrants in the Receivables Purchase
Agreement that the sale or transfer of the Receivables by it to JCPR is a
valid sale of the Receivables to JCPR, and JCPR warrants in the Pooling and
Servicing Agreement that the transfer of the Receivables by it to the Trust is
either a valid transfer of the Receivables or the grant of a security interest
in the Receivables to the Trust. JCPenney and JCPR have taken such actions as
are required to perfect the Trust's security interest in the Receivables. JCPR
warrants to the Trust that if the transfer of any of the Receivables by it is
deemed to be a grant of a security interest in the Receivables, the Trustee
will have a first priority perfected security interest therein. If, however,
the transfer of such Receivables to the Trust is deemed to create a security
interest therein, a tax or government lien on property of JCPR arising before
such Receivables came into existence may have priority over the Trust's
interest in such Receivables.
 
  In addition, while JCPenney is the Servicer, cash collections, subject to
certain conditions, may be commingled and used for JCPenney's own benefit
prior to each Distribution Date and, in the event of the insolvency or
receivership of JCPenney or, in certain circumstances, the lapse of certain
time periods, the Trust may not have a perfected interest in such collections.
If, however, the short term debt ratings of JCPenney are reduced below A-1 or
P-1 by the applicable Rating Agency, JCPenney will commence depositing
collections directly into the Collection Account within two business days
after the date of processing.
 
  If a bankruptcy trustee or a receiver were appointed for JCPenney or JCPR,
causing a Pay Out Event with respect to all Series then outstanding, then
pursuant to the Pooling and Servicing Agreement, new Principal Receivables
would not be transferred to the Trust and the Trustee would sell the
Receivables (unless holders of more than 50% of the principal amount of all
Series outstanding instruct otherwise), thereby causing a termination of the
Trust and a loss to certificateholders of all Series (including the
Certificateholders) if the net proceeds allocable to such Series from such
sale were insufficient to pay certificateholders (including the
Certificateholders) in full. If a bankruptcy trustee for JCPenney, JCPenney as
debtor in possession or a creditor of JCPenney were to take the view that
JCPenney and JCPR should be substantively consolidated or that the transfer of
the Receivables from JCPenney to JCPR (and therefore from JCPR to the Trust)
should be characterized as a pledge of such Receivables, then delays in
payments on the Certificates or (should the bankruptcy court rule in favor of
any such trustee, debtor in possession or creditor) reductions in such
payments could result. See "Certain Legal Aspects of the Receivables--Certain
Matters Relating to Bankruptcy."
 
  The Accounts and the Receivables are subject to numerous federal and state
consumer protection laws that impose requirements on the making, enforcement
and collection of consumer credit extensions. Pursuant to the Pooling and
Servicing Agreement, JCPR covenants to accept retransfer from the Trust, and
pursuant to the Receivables Purchase Agreement, JCPenney agrees to repurchase
from JCPR, each Receivable that did not comply with all requirements of law at
the time it was transferred to the Trust. JCPR makes to the Trust, and
JCPenney makes to JCPR, certain other representations and warranties relating
to the validity and enforceability of the Receivables. However, it is not
anticipated that the Trustee will make any examination of the Receivables or
the records relating thereto for the purpose of establishing the presence or
absence of defects, compliance with such representations and warranties or for
any other purpose. The sole remedy if any such representation or
 
                                      15
<PAGE>
 
warranty is breached, and such breach continues beyond the applicable cure
period, is that JCPR will be obligated to accept the retransfer of such
Receivables and JCPenney will be obligated to repurchase such Receivables from
JCPR. See "Description of the Certificates and the Pooling and Servicing
Agreement--Representations and Warranties," "Description of the Receivables
Purchase Agreement--Representations and Warranties" and "Certain Legal Aspects
of the Receivables--Consumer Protection Laws."
 
  Application of federal and state bankruptcy and debtor relief laws could
affect the interests of the Certificateholders in the Receivables if such laws
result in any Receivables being written off as uncollectible. See "Description
of the Certificates and the Pooling and Servicing Agreement--Defaulted
Receivables and Rebates."
 
  Insolvency of JCP Card Bank. In a receivership or conservatorship of JCP
Card Bank, if the conveyance of the Receivables by JCP Card Bank to JCPenney
is not treated as a sale, but is deemed to create a security interest in the
Receivables, JCPenney's interest in the Receivables may be subject to tax or
other governmental liens relating to JCP Card Bank arising before the
Receivables came into existence and to certain administrative expenses of the
receivership or conservatorship. JCP Card Bank has taken or will take certain
actions required to perfect JCPenney's interest in the Receivables.
 
  A conservator or receiver would have the power under the Financial
Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act of 1989 ("FIRREA") to
repudiate contracts of, and to request a stay of up to 90 days of any judicial
action or proceeding involving, JCP Card Bank. However, notwithstanding the
insolvency of, or the appointment of a receiver or conservator for, JCP Card
Bank, subject to certain qualifications, a valid perfected security interest
of JCPenney in the Receivables should be enforceable (to the extent of
JCPenney's "actual direct compensatory damages" as described below) and
payments to JCPenney with respect to the Receivables (up to the amount of such
damages) should not be subject to an automatic stay of payment or to recovery
by such a conservator or receiver. If, however, the conservator or receiver
were to assert that the security interest was unperfected or unenforceable, or
were to require JCPenney to establish its right to those payments by
submitting to and completing the administrative claims procedure established
under FIRREA, or the conservator or receiver were to request a stay of
proceedings with respect to JCP Card Bank as provided under FIRREA, delays in
payments on the Certificates and possible reductions in the amount of those
payments could occur. In the event of a repudiation of obligations by a
conservator or receiver, FIRREA provides that a claim for the repudiated
obligation is limited to "actual direct compensatory damages" (which in most
cases are expected to include the outstanding principal on the Certificates
plus interest accrued thereon to the date of payment) determined as of the
date of the appointment of the conservator or receiver. The FDIC has not
adopted a formal policy statement on payment of principal and interest on
collateralized borrowings of banks that are repudiated. JCPR believes that the
general practice of the FDIC in such circumstances is to permit the collateral
to be applied to pay the principal owed plus interest at the contract rate up
to the date of payment, together with the costs of liquidation of the
collateral if provided for in the contract. In one case involving the
repudiation by the Resolution Trust Corporation (the "RTC") of certain secured
zero-coupon bonds issued by a savings association, a United States federal
district court held that "actual direct compensatory damages" in the case of a
marketable security meant the value of the repudiated bonds as of the date of
repudiation. If that court's view were applied to determine JCPenney's "actual
direct compensatory damages" in the event a conservator or receiver of JCP
Card Bank repudiated the transfer of the Receivables to JCPenney, the amount
paid to Certificateholders could, depending upon circumstances existing on the
date of the repudiation, be less than the principal of the Certificates and
the interest accrued thereon to the date of payment.
 
  Payments and Maturity. The Receivables may be paid at any time and there is
no assurance that there will be additional Receivables or that any particular
pattern of cardholder repayments will occur. A significant decline in the
amount of Receivables generated could result in the occurrence of a Pay Out
Event and the commencement of the Rapid Amortization Period, and a significant
decrease in the cardholder monthly payment rate could slow the return of
principal during the Controlled Amortization Period or the Rapid Amortization
Period, as the case may be. See "Maturity Assumptions."
 
 
                                      16
<PAGE>
 
  Dependence on JCPenney and its Affiliates. Because the credit cards in the
JCPenney Portfolio can only be used to purchase merchandise and services from
JCPenney and its affiliates, the Trust is completely dependent upon JCPenney
and its affiliates for the generation of Receivables. The business of
marketing merchandise and services is highly competitive. Although JCPenney is
one of the largest department store and drugstore retailers in the United
States, it has numerous competitors. Many factors enter into the competition
for the consumer's patronage, including price, quality, style, service,
product mix, convenience and credit availability. There can, therefore, be no
assurance that JCPenney and its affiliates will continue to generate
Receivables at the same rate as in prior years. In addition, changes from time
to time in the mix of products sold by JCPenney and its affiliates may also
affect the average maturity of the Receivables.
 
  Credit Card Competition. Since JCPenney accepts American Express,
MasterCard, VISA and Discover cards as well as debit cards, the Trust depends
on the decisions of JCPenney customers to use the JCPenney credit card rather
than another credit card or payment alternative. The credit card industry is
highly competitive. Interest rates and other benefits available through third
party credit card sources may cause customers not to use or carry balances on
JCPenney credit cards, thereby affecting account balances and payment
patterns. If the rate at which JCP Card Bank generates new accounts declines
significantly, JCPR might be unable to designate additional accounts to the
Trust and a Pay Out Event could occur, resulting in payment of principal
sooner than expected, or if significant decreases in Receivables occur when
Certificate Owners are receiving principal, the Certificate Owners may receive
principal more slowly than planned.
 
  Consumer Protection Laws. The Accounts and the Receivables are subject to
numerous federal and state consumer protection laws that impose requirements
on the making, enforcement and collection of consumer credit extensions. As a
national bank, JCP Card Bank is subject to national banking laws and
applicable regulations. With respect to certain matters, however, such as
maximum finance charges and other permissible charges, JCP Card Bank's
activities are governed by the consumer credit laws of the State of Delaware
where its charter is located. In addition, some of the Accounts continue to be
subject to the consumer credit laws of the states in which the respective
cardholders reside, including limits on the annual percentage rate of finance
charges and amounts of other fees. Certain jurisdictions may attempt to
require out-of-state credit card issuers to comply with such jurisdictions'
consumer protection laws (including laws governing finance charges and fees
imposed by issuers in connection with their operations in such jurisdictions).
A successful challenge by such a jurisdiction could have an adverse impact on
JCPenney credit operations or the yield on Receivables in the Trust. JCPenney,
JCP Card Bank and the Trust may also be subject to other existing state and
federal laws relating to retail credit such as laws concerning disclosure of
credit terms in credit applications or periodic statements, credit
discrimination, unauthorized use of credit cards, telephone solicitation
practices, use of credit bureau reports, collection practices and preservation
of certain claims and defenses. Any existing laws or the failure to comply
with such laws may adversely affect the Servicer's ability to collect on the
Receivables or maintain the required level of periodic finance charges and
other fees.
 
  From time to time, bills have been introduced which, if enacted, might
reduce the rate at which JCP Card Bank or JCPenney may impose finance charges
and fees on accounts maintained by cardholders. JCPenney and JCP Card Bank
have informed JCPR that they do not expect enactment of any state or federal
legislation which would substantially reduce finance charge revenue or impair
collections on receivables. There can be no assurance, however, that any such
legislation will not be enacted in the future. If a bill imposing a ceiling on
finance charge rates were enacted into law during the Revolving Period or the
Controlled Amortization Period, JCPenney could be required to lower the
finance charges that it assesses on some or all of the Receivables to a level
which might constitute a Pay Out Event, thus causing the commencement of the
Rapid Amortization Period and other adverse consequences to
Certificateholders. See "Description of the Certificates and the Pooling and
Servicing Agreement--Pay Out Events."
 
  Social, Legal and Economic Factors. Changes in credit card use and payment
patterns by cardholders may also result from a variety of social, legal and
economic factors. Economic factors, including relative interest rates offered
for various types of extensions of credit, may also be reflected in increased
defaults by cardholders. JCPenney and JCP Card Bank are unable to determine
and have no basis to predict whether, or to what extent, social, legal or
economic factors will affect future card use or repayment patterns.
 
                                      17
<PAGE>
 
  Ability to Change Terms of the Accounts. JCPenney and JCP Card Bank have the
right to determine the level of finance charges and other fees which will be
applicable from time to time to the Accounts, to alter the minimum monthly
payments required on the Accounts and to change any other terms with respect
to the Accounts as permitted by applicable law. A decrease in the level of
finance charges and other fees assessed on the Accounts would decrease the
effective yield on the Accounts and could result in the occurrence of a Pay
Out Event and the commencement of the Rapid Amortization Period. Under the
Pooling and Servicing Agreement and the Receivables Purchase Agreement,
JCPenney agrees that, except as otherwise required by law or as is deemed by
JCPenney to be necessary in order to maintain its business, based upon a good
faith assessment by it, in its sole discretion, of the nature of the
competition in its business, it will not reduce nor will JCP Card Bank reduce
the annual percentage rate of the finance charges assessed on the Receivables
or other fees on the Accounts if, as a result of such reduction, its
reasonable expectation of the Portfolio Yield (as hereinafter defined) as of
such date would be less than the Base Rate. The term "Base Rate" means the
weighted average of the Class A Certificate Rate, the Class B Certificate Rate
and the Class C Rate, plus the annualized percentage equivalent of a fraction
the numerator of which is the sum of the monthly Investor Servicing Fee and
the denominator of which is the Investor Amount as of the last day of the
preceding Monthly Period. In addition, JCPenney agrees not to change nor will
JCP Card Bank change the terms of the Accounts unless the same change is also
made applicable to the comparable segment of the portfolio of accounts with
similar characteristics serviced by it. In servicing the Accounts, the
Servicer is required to exercise the same care and apply the same policies
that it exercises in handling similar matters for its own comparable accounts.
Except as specified above, there are no restrictions on the ability of
JCPenney or JCP Card Bank to change the terms of the Accounts or other credit
card guidelines or policies, including policies on credit approval. While
JCPenney has informed JCPR that it has no current intention of decreasing nor
does JCP Card Bank have any current intention of decreasing its finance
charges, there can be no assurance that changes in applicable law, in the
marketplace or prudent business practice might not result in a determination
by JCPenney or JCP Card Bank to take actions which would change the terms of
the Accounts.
 
  Additional Series. A Supplement delivered in connection with the issuance of
other Series may specify certain Principal Terms (as hereinafter defined)
applicable to such Series. Such Principal Terms may include methods for
determining applicable investor percentages and allocating collections,
provisions creating different or additional security or other credit
enhancement, provisions subordinating such Series to other Series or other
Series (if the Supplement relating to such other Series so permits) to such
Series and any other amendment or supplement to the Pooling and Servicing
Agreement which is made applicable only to such Series. No Supplement,
however, may change the terms of the Certificates or the terms of the Pooling
and Servicing Agreement applicable to the Certificates, except the terms
respecting the circumstances under which JCPR may be required to transfer
Additional Accounts to the Trust. See "Description of the Certificates and the
Pooling and Servicing Agreement--Exchanges" and "--Addition of Accounts." As
long as the Certificates are outstanding, a condition to the execution of any
Supplement will be that each Rating Agency shall have advised the Trustee that
the issuance of such Series will not result in the reduction or withdrawal of
their rating of any prior outstanding Series (including the Certificates). See
"Description of the Certificates and the Pooling and Servicing Agreement--
Exchanges." Any such determination by any such Rating Agency would not,
however, provide any assurance that issuance of any such additional Series
would not, in fact, have a materially adverse effect on the Certificates. The
issuance of an additional Series does not require the consent of any
Certificateholder.
 
  Book-Entry Registration. The Certificates will initially be represented by
Certificates which will be registered in the name of Cede and will not be
registered in the names of the Certificate Owners or their nominees. Unless
and until Definitive Certificates are issued, Certificate Owners will
therefore not be recognized by the Trustee as Certificateholders, as that term
is used in the Pooling and Servicing Agreement. Until such time, Certificate
Owners will accordingly only be able to receive payments to, and exercise the
rights of, Certificateholders indirectly through DTC and its participating
organizations, and will receive reports and other information provided for
under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement only if, when and to the extent
provided to Certificate Owners by DTC and its participating organizations. In
addition, the ability of Certificate Owners to
 
                                      18
<PAGE>
 
pledge Certificates to persons or entities that do not participate in the DTC
system, or otherwise take actions in respect of such Certificates, may be
limited due to the lack of a physical certificate for such Certificates. See
"Description of the Certificates and the Pooling and Servicing Agreement--
Book-Entry Registration" and "--Definitive Certificates."
 
  Effect of Subordination on Class B Certificateholders. Payments of principal
in respect of the Class B Certificates will not commence until after the final
principal payment with respect to the Class A Certificates. In addition, if
collections of Finance Charge Receivables allocable to the Certificates are
insufficient to cover required amounts due with respect to the Class A
Certificates, the Class B Investor Interest will be reduced, resulting in a
reduction of the portion of collections of Finance Charge Receivables
allocable to the Class B Certificates in future periods and a possible delay
or reduction in principal and interest payments on the Class B Certificates.
 
  Limited Scope of Certificate Rating. The ratings assigned to the Class A
Certificates and the Class B Certificates by a Rating Agency will reflect such
Rating Agency's assessment of the likelihood that Certificateholders of such
Class will receive payments of interest and principal required to be made
under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement and will be based primarily on the
value of the Receivables in the Trust and the subordination of the Class B
Certificates (in the case of the rating of the Class A Certificates) and the
Class C Investor Interest. However, any such rating will not address the
likelihood that the principal of, or interest on, any Certificates of such
Class will be paid on a scheduled date. In addition, any such rating will not
address the possibility of the occurrence of a Pay Out Event with respect to
such Class or the possibility of the imposition of United States withholding
tax with respect to non-U.S. Certificateholders. The rating will not be a
recommendation to purchase, hold or sell Certificates of such Class, and such
rating will not comment as to the marketability of such Certificates, any
market price or suitability for a particular investor. There can be no
assurance that any rating will remain for a given period of time or that any
rating will not be lowered or withdrawn entirely by a Rating Agency if in such
Rating Agency's judgment circumstances so warrant.
 
  JCPR will request a rating of the Certificates offered hereby by at least
one Rating Agency. There can be no assurance as to whether any rating agency
not requested to rate the Certificates will nonetheless issue a rating with
respect to the Certificates, and, if so, what such rating would be. A rating
assigned to any Certificates by a rating agency that has not been requested by
JCPR to do so may be lower than the rating assigned by a Rating Agency
pursuant to JCPR's request.
 
  Year 2000 Compliance. The Year 2000 issue refers to many computer systems
that store and process dates using only the last two digits of the year. Such
systems, if not changed, may interpret "00" as the year "1900" instead of the
year "2000." In October 1996, JCPenney formed a companywide task force to
provide guidance to operating and support departments, and to monitor the
progress of efforts to address Year 2000 issues. The scope of this effort
includes internally developed information technology systems, and purchased
and leased software that service the Receivables. JCPenney expects that
compliance work will be substantially completed by the end of 1998.
 
  Despite the significant efforts to address Year 2000 concerns, JCPenney
could experience disruptions to some of its operations, including those
resulting from noncompliant systems used by third party business and
governmental entities. There can be no assurance that no disruption to
JCPenney's operations will occur or that the systems of third parties with
which JCPenney deals will be timely converted. Furthermore, there can be no
assurance that such a disruption, if it occurs, or the failure to timely
convert such systems will not adversely affect JCPenney's ability to service
and collect the Receivables.
 
                                      19
<PAGE>
 
                        JCPENNEY'S CREDIT CARD BUSINESS
 
GENERAL
 
  The Receivables that JCPenney has sold or transferred or will transfer to
JCPR pursuant to the Receivables Purchase Agreement, and which JCPR has
transferred or will in turn transfer to the Trust pursuant to the Pooling and
Servicing Agreement, have been and will be generated from purchases (excluding
purchases of insurance other than credit insurance) charged by holders of
JCPenney credit cards. The revolving charge accounts under which the
Receivables arise were and are created by JCPenney and JCP Card Bank and
enable each cardholder to use the JCPenney credit card to purchase virtually
all types of merchandise and services sold by JCPenney and its affiliates.
JCPenney services these accounts principally through processing centers
located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Orlando, Florida. Accounts maintained
in Puerto Rico, which are not included in the Accounts, are serviced by a
third party in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Relations with individual cardholders
are handled at JCPenney's regional credit service centers.
 
  The JCPenney credit card currently may be used to make both major purchase
charges and regular charges. Major purchase charges, which comprise less than
10% of the JCPenney Portfolio, are generally charges of certain categories of
merchandise, including furniture and jewelry, but excluding apparel. Regular
charges are all other charges. Balances due with respect to both types of
charges will be included in the Receivables. JCPenney and JCP Card Bank may
change the terms applicable to, or may eliminate, either category of charges
at any time.
 
  Account balances are created solely by purchases of merchandise and services
from JCPenney and its affiliates. The Trust will consequently depend upon the
continued ability of JCPenney and its affiliates to generate credit sales. In
addition, since JCPenney and its affiliates accept American Express,
MasterCard, VISA, Discover and debit cards, the Trust will also depend upon
the decisions of customers to use the JCPenney credit card rather than another
credit card or payment alternative. The following table summarizes for the
periods indicated the amounts and percentages of sales of JCPenney and its
affiliates made with the JCPenney credit card and other credit cards and debit
cards currently accepted by JCPenney and such affiliates:
 
                    JCPENNEY AND AFFILIATE CREDIT SALES (1)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                SIX MONTHS ENDED (2)                            FISCAL YEAR (2)
                          --------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------
                                1998             1997             1997              1996                1995
                          ---------------- ---------------- ---------------- ------------------- ------------------
                                  PERCENT          PERCENT          PERCENT
                          CREDIT  OF TOTAL CREDIT  OF TOTAL CREDIT  OF TOTAL CREDIT  PERCENT OF  CREDIT PERCENT OF
                           SALES   SALES    SALES   SALES    SALES   SALES    SALES  TOTAL SALES  SALES TOTAL SALES
                          ------ --------- ------ --------- ------ --------- ------ ------------ ------ -----------
<S>                       <C>    <C>       <C>    <C>       <C>    <C>       <C>    <C>          <C>    <C>
JCPenney Card...........
Third party credit/debit
 cards..................
                           ---      ---     ---      ---     ---      ---     ---       ---       ---       ---
 Total..................
                           ===      ===     ===      ===     ===      ===     ===       ===       ===       ===
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) Includes balances in commercial and Puerto Rican accounts, which will not
    be included in the Accounts, as well as de minimus balances in accounts of
    U.S. cardholders in Mexico and Chile.
(2) Fiscal year ends on the last Saturday in January of the following year.
    Six-month periods ended on      , 1998, and      , 1997.
 
MARKETING PROGRAMS, ACCOUNT ORIGINATION, AND CREDIT GUIDELINES
 
  The accounts in the JCPenney Portfolio have been, and are anticipated to be,
generated by (1) making account applications available at JCPenney stores,
catalog outlets and in JCPenney catalogs; (2) oral invitations to customers in
JCPenney stores or catalog outlets; and (3) making direct mail solicitations
on a preapproved credit basis to a prescreened group of prospects based on
information obtained from credit bureaus and other entities in the business of
selling customer lists. JCPenney and JCP Card Bank do not use non-prescreened
or "blind" mailings to solicit new accounts. Before an account is opened in
response to an application, the prospective cardholder's application is
reviewed for completeness and creditworthiness. If the application is
unsolicited or is solicited in the stores or catalog outlets, a credit report
issued by an independent credit reporting
 
                                      20
<PAGE>
 
agency or credit bureau is obtained and information in such report regarding
the applicant may be verified. In the case of prescreened mailings or mailings
from other list services besides credit reporting agencies, prior to mailing,
consumer credit records are reviewed by a credit reporting agency to identify
the individuals that meet JCPenney's standards for receiving preapproved
account solicitations.
 
  All prospective cardholders, whether unsolicited or preapproved, are
evaluated through the use of computerized credit scoring systems. These
systems use statistical scoring models to enhance the ability to evaluate
applicant creditworthiness and minimize the exposure to high credit risk
individuals. These systems assign point values to the credit bureau
information of potential preapproved solicitation recipients, and assign point
values to both the application and credit bureau information of solicited and
unsolicited applicants from JCPenney stores, catalog outlets, or through the
JCPenney catalog. Point values, in turn, are based on statistical analysis of
empirical data about the performance of sample populations or applicants. The
total of the values obtained for a prospective cardholder determines both the
decision whether or not to offer or open an account and the initial credit
limit. JCPenney and JCP Card Bank may, however, change credit standards or
screening methods at any time. JCPenney and JCP Card Bank also may use scoring
models from time to time to evaluate existing accounts, modify credit limits,
or approve purchases in excess of formal credit limits.
 
  At the present time, a cardholder's credit limit is assigned according to a
cardholder's highest permissible outstanding balance, rather than according to
the highest required minimum monthly payment that a cardholder may incur. Each
charge to an account is entered and approved at the time the charge is made
through direct communication with JCPenney's central processing system in
order to ensure that credit limits are not exceeded. See "Risk Factors--
Ability to Change Terms of the Accounts."
 
  Each cardholder is subject to an agreement governing the terms and
conditions of such cardholder's account. Pursuant to each such agreement, JCP
Card Bank reserves the right to change or terminate any terms, conditions,
services or features of the related account (including increasing or
decreasing finance charges, other charges or minimum payments). In addition,
JCPenney and JCP Card Bank may from time to time hold special credit
promotions which allow cardholders to defer payments (in some circumstances
without incurring finance charges) for limited periods of time. The Accounts
may include Principal Receivables originated during such promotions.
 
LOSS AND DELINQUENCY EXPERIENCE
 
  Efforts to collect delinquent credit card receivables are first made by
JCPenney and later made by collection agencies and attorneys retained by
JCPenney. JCPenney assigns accounts to particular collection strategies based
on the length of time open, the prior delinquency history, and the current
balance. Under JCPenney's and JCP Card Bank's current policies, JCPenney
automatically mails a reminder letter and/or statement message to any
cardholder who does not make a scheduled payment by the account billing date.
The account's collection strategy determines when additional letters will be
sent and telephone contacts with the customer will occur through JCPenney's
collection centers. However, statement messages continue on all accounts until
the accounts are brought to current status. JCPenney may also enter into
arrangements with the cardholder to extend or otherwise change the
cardholder's payment schedule, or refer the customer to a credit counseling
service. JCPenney may also refer the matter to a collection agency or
attorney. The current policy of JCPenney and JCP Card Bank is generally to
recognize losses no later than the sixth month of delinquency, although charge
offs may be made earlier in some circumstances. JCPenney's and JCP Card Bank's
credit evaluation, servicing and charge-off policies and collection practices
may change at any time in accordance with JCPenney's and JCP Card Bank's
business judgment and applicable law. Under the terms of the Pooling and
Servicing Agreement, any recoveries (including credit insurance proceeds)
received in respect of Receivables in charged-off Accounts, net of the
estimated expenses of collection, will be paid to the Trust.
 
 
                                      21
<PAGE>
 
  The following tables set forth the loss and delinquency experience with
respect to payments by cardholders for each of the periods shown for the
JCPenney Portfolio. There can be no assurance, however, that the loss and
delinquency experience for the Receivables in the future will be similar to
the historical experience set forth below:
 
                LOSS EXPERIENCE FOR THE JCPENNEY PORTFOLIO (1)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                         SIX MONTHS ENDED (2)   FISCAL YEAR(2)
                                        ----------------------- --------------
                                             , 1998      , 1997 1997 1996 1995
                                        ----------- ----------- ---- ---- ----
                                                (DOLLARS IN MILLIONS)
<S>                                     <C>         <C>         <C>  <C>  <C>
Average Receivables Outstanding (3)....
Gross Charge Offs (4)..................
Recoveries, Net of Collection
 Expenses..............................
Net Charge Offs........................
Net Charge Offs as a Percentage of
 Average Receivables Outstanding (5)...
</TABLE>
- -------
(1) Includes commercial and Puerto Rican accounts, which will not be included
    in the Accounts, as well as de minimus balances in accounts of U.S.
    cardholders in Mexico and Chile.
(2) Fiscal year ends on the last Saturday in January of the following year.
    Six-month periods ended on     , 1998, and     , 1997.
(3) Average Receivables outstanding is the arithmetic average of Receivables
    outstanding on the last day of each fiscal month during period indicated.
(4) Gross charge offs are charge offs before recoveries and do not include the
    amount of any reductions in average Receivables outstanding for returned
    goods.
(5) Percentages for the six months ended       , 1998 and the six months ended
          , 1997 are annualized.
 
      AVERAGE DELINQUENCIES AS A PERCENTAGE OF THE JCPENNEY PORTFOLIO (1)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                              SIX MONTHS ENDED (2)                                      FISCAL YEAR (3)
                   ------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------
                           1998                  1997                  1997                  1996                  1995
                   --------------------- --------------------- --------------------- --------------------- ---------------------
                   DELINQUENT            DELINQUENT            DELINQUENT            DELINQUENT            DELINQUENT
  PAYMENT STATUS     AMOUNT   PERCENTAGE   AMOUNT   PERCENTAGE   AMOUNT   PERCENTAGE   AMOUNT   PERCENTAGE   AMOUNT   PERCENTAGE
  --------------   ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
                                                               (DOLLARS IN MILLIONS)
<S>                <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
30-59 days
 delinquent......
60-89 days
 delinquent......
90 days
 delinquent or
 more............
 Total...........
</TABLE>
- -------
(1) The percentages are the result of dividing the arithmetic average of the
    delinquent amounts on the last day of each fiscal month of the periods
    indicated by the arithmetic average of the Receivables outstanding on the
    last day of each fiscal month of the periods indicated, in each case
    excluding balances arising from commercial accounts and accounts serviced
    by third parties in Puerto Rico, Mexico and Chile.
(2) Six month 1998 and 1997 figures for the entire JCPenney Portfolio are
    estimated using actual information available for Cycles One, Two, Three,
    and Four, respectively. Six-month periods ended on     , 1998, and     ,
    1997.
(3) Fiscal year ends on the last Saturday in January of the following year.
 
  Losses and delinquencies are affected by a number of factors including
competitive behavior and general economic and social conditions, including
consumer debt levels. JCPenney has informed JCPR that it is unable to
determine the extent to which, if any, the loss and delinquency experience
described above reflects the influence of these factors.
 
 
                                      22
<PAGE>
 
                                 THE ACCOUNTS
 
GENERAL
 
  The Accounts currently consist of substantially all the United States
JCPenney credit card accounts included in Cycles One, Two, Three, and Four
(four of the 10 billing cycles for JCPenney credit card accounts). The
Accounts include Accounts originated by JCP Card Bank, in which JCPenney has
purchased the Receivables arising thereunder but do not include commercial
accounts and accounts serviced by third parties in Puerto Rico, Mexico and
Chile. Additional accounts added to such Cycles in the normal operation of
JCPenney's credit card business will generally be added on a daily basis as a
category of Additional Accounts. See "Description of the Certificates and the
Pooling and Servicing Agreement--Addition of Accounts." JCPenney credit card
accounts are grouped into billing cycles for purposes of administrative
convenience. Each billing cycle has a separate monthly billing date (which may
vary slightly from month to month) at which time the activity in the related
accounts during the month ending on such billing date is processed and billed
to cardholders. The billing dates for Cycles One, Two, Three, and Four are
generally the fourth, seventh, tenth and thirteenth days, respectively, for
each month. New accounts are assigned to billing cycles in a manner which is
intended, for purposes of administrative convenience, to equalize the number
of accounts in the billing cycles. While the selection of Accounts for
inclusion in the Trust by billing cycle is not random and Cycles One, Two,
Three, and Four vary in minor respects from the JCPenney Portfolio, the
inclusion of the Accounts, as a whole, does not represent an adverse selection
from the JCPenney Portfolio. Some of the Accounts will be recently solicited,
unseasoned Accounts and the Receivables will include delinquent Receivables
and may include obligations of cardholders who are or are about to become
bankrupt or insolvent as well as Accounts already charged off (although the
Receivables in such charged-off Accounts are considered to have a balance of
zero).
 
  Pursuant to the Pooling and Servicing Agreement, JCPR has the right (and,
under certain circumstances, the obligation), subject to certain limitations
and conditions discussed under "Description of the Certificates and the
Pooling and Servicing Agreement--Addition of Accounts," to designate from time
to time additional qualifying JCPenney credit card accounts (which may be from
any billing cycle other than billing cycles already in the Trust) to be
included as Additional Accounts and to transfer to the Trust all Receivables
of such Additional Accounts, whether such Receivables are then existing or
thereafter created. JCPenney and JCPR currently intend that all new accounts
opened in Cycles One, Two, Three, and Four will be added as Additional
Accounts on a daily basis. Further, pursuant to the Pooling and Servicing
Agreement, JCPR has the right, subject to certain limitations and conditions
discussed under "Description of the Certificates and Pooling and Servicing
Agreement--Removal of Accounts," to designate certain Accounts to be removed
from the Trust and to require the Trustee to retransfer all Receivables in
such Removed Accounts to JCPR. Throughout the term of the Trust, the Accounts
from which the Receivables arise will generally be the same Accounts in Cycles
One, Two, Three, and Four plus any Additional Accounts and minus any Removed
Accounts. See "Description of the Certificates and the Pooling and Servicing
Agreement--Transfer of Receivables."
 
  The Receivables arising from the Accounts as of the beginning of    , 1998
totaled $    in Principal Receivables and $    in Finance Charge Receivables.
See "Description of the Certificates and the Pooling and Servicing Agreement--
Investor Percentage and JCPR Percentage." The Accounts had an average
principal balance of $   and an average credit limit of $  . See the table
below headed "Composition of Accounts by Credit Limit" and the notes thereto.
The aggregate total Principal Receivables balance as a percentage of such
assumed aggregate total credit limit was   %. Billing addresses for the
Accounts are located in all 50 states and the District of Columbia and are
substantially as geographically diversified as the JCPenney Portfolio. The
eight states with the largest outstanding aggregate Account balances,
expressed as an approximate percentage of total Account balances, are
California (  %), Texas (  %), Ohio (  %), Michigan (  %), Florida (  %), New
York (  %), Pennsylvania (  %), and Illinois (  %). No other state represents
more than   % of the total Account balances.
 
                                      23
<PAGE>
 
  The following tables summarize the Accounts by various criteria as of     ,
1998. The tables exclude Defaulted Accounts and the Receivables therein.
Because the composition of the Accounts may change in the future, these tables
are not necessarily indicative of the characteristics of the Trust at any time
after     , 1998.
 
             COMPOSITION OF ACCOUNTS BY PRINCIPAL ACCOUNT BALANCE
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                     PERCENTAGE
                                      OF TOTAL    PRINCIPAL   PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL
                           NUMBER OF   NUMBER    RECEIVABLES PRINCIPAL RECEIVABLES
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNT BALANCE  ACCOUNTS  OF ACCOUNTS OUTSTANDING      OUTSTANDING
- -------------------------  --------- ----------- ----------- ---------------------
<S>                        <C>       <C>         <C>         <C>
Credit Balance (1).......
No Balance (2)...........
$    to $   .............
$    to $   .............
$    to $   .............
$    to $   .............
$    to $   .............
Over $   ................
                             ----       ----        ----             ----
  Total..................                             (3)
                             ====       ====        ====             ====
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) Credit balances are a result of cardholder payments and credit adjustments
    applied in excess of an Account's unpaid balance. Accounts that currently
    have a credit balance are included because Receivables may be generated
    with respect thereto in the future.
(2) Accounts that currently have no balance are included because Receivables
    may be generated thereunder in the future.
(3) Includes $   of insurance premium receivables which will not be included
    in the Trust. Principal Receivables transferred to the Trust total $   .
 
                  COMPOSITION OF ACCOUNTS BY CREDIT LIMIT (1)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                     PERCENTAGE
                                              PERCENTAGE              OF TOTAL
                                      NUMBER   OF TOTAL   PRINCIPAL   PRINCIPAL
                                        OF    NUMBER OF  RECEIVABLES RECEIVABLES
CREDIT LIMIT                         ACCOUNTS  ACCOUNTS  OUTSTANDING OUTSTANDING
- ------------                         -------- ---------- ----------- -----------
<S>                                  <C>      <C>        <C>         <C>
$    to $   ........................
$    to $   ........................
$    to $   ........................
$    to $   ........................
$    to $   ........................
$    to $   ........................
$    to $   ........................
$    to $   ........................
                                       ---       ---         ---         ---
  Total.............................                            (2)
                                       ===       ===         ===         ===
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) Credit limits are presently assigned according to a cardholder's highest
    permissible outstanding balance rather than according to the highest
    required minimum monthly payment a cardholder may incur.
(2) Includes $    of insurance premium receivables which will not be included
    in the Trust. Principal Receivables transferred to the Trust total $   .
 
                                      24
<PAGE>
 
                   COMPOSITION OF ACCOUNTS BY PAYMENT STATUS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                    PERCENTAGE OF
                                                        PRINCIPAL  TOTAL PRINCIPAL
                         NUMBER OF PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL RECEIVABLES   RECEIVABLES
PAYMENT STATUS           ACCOUNTS  NUMBER OF ACCOUNTS  OUTSTANDING   OUTSTANDING
- --------------           --------- ------------------- ----------- ---------------
<S>                      <C>       <C>                 <C>         <C>
Current (1).............
30-59 days delinquent...
60-89 days delinquent...
90 days delinquent or
 more...................
                            ---            ---             ---           ---
  Total.................                                      (2)
                            ===            ===             ===           ===
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) Includes Accounts on which the minimum payment has been received prior to
    the first billing date following the issuance of the related bill.
(2) Includes $   of insurance premium receivables which will not be included
    in the Trust. Principal Receivables transferred to the Trust total $  .
 
BILLING AND PAYMENTS
 
  Monthly billing statements are sent to cardholders. Each month a cardholder
must make a minimum payment that varies in size according to the outstanding
account balance. In general, the minimum payments for regular charges are
currently $20 on balances under $100, $30 to $65 on balances between $101 and
$600, and 11% of the entire outstanding amount on balances over $600. Terms
for major purchase charges may vary from terms for regular charges. Where
permitted by law, late fees and returned check charges are generally added to
a cardholder's outstanding balance. JCPenney and JCP Card Bank may change
billing practices, including the minimum monthly payment amounts, at any time.
See "Risk Factors--Ability to Change Terms of the Accounts."
 
  A finance charge is assessed on the Accounts. This charge is based on the
average daily balance outstanding on an Account during a monthly billing
period and is calculated by multiplying this average daily balance by the
applicable finance charge rate. Current purchase transactions and unpaid
finance charges are included in the average daily balance. Excluded from the
finance charge calculation are insurance premiums, returned payment charges,
and late payment fees. No finance charges are assessed on purchases if all
outstanding balances are paid in full by the cardholder's next billing date.
The average current finance charge rate for the Receivables is 21% per annum.
By the terms of the account agreements governing the Accounts, JCP Card Bank
may change its finance charge rates at any time. There can, therefore, be no
assurance that finance charges, fees and other charges will remain at current
levels in the future. See "Description of the Certificates and the Pooling and
Servicing Agreement--Collection and Other Servicing Procedures."
 
  Where permitted by law, JCP Card Bank also generally charges cardholders
late fees not exceeding $20 and returned check fees not exceeding $20. JCP
Card Bank does not impose over-limit fees or annual fees.
 
  Payments by cardholders to JCPenney on the Accounts are processed and
applied first to insurance premiums on insurance purchased through J. C.
Penney Direct Marketing Services, Inc. and billed to a cardholder (other than
credit insurance premiums), second to credit insurance premiums, third to
unpaid finance charges, fourth to late fees, fifth to returned check charges
and sixth to principal. Receivables in respect of insurance other than credit
insurance will not be included in the Receivables.
 
                                      25
<PAGE>
 
                         JCPR, JCPENNEY AND THE TRUST
 
  JCPR was incorporated in Delaware on May 9, 1988, and is an indirect wholly-
owned subsidiary of JCPenney. JCPR was organized for the limited purposes of
purchasing accounts receivable such as the Receivables from JCPenney and its
affiliates, forming trusts such as the Trust and transferring such accounts
receivable to such trusts. The principal executive offices of JCPR are located
at 6501 Legacy Drive, Mail Stop 1318, Plano, Texas 75024. Its telephone number
is 972-431-2082.
 
  JCPenney was founded by James Cash Penney in 1902. Incorporated in Delaware
in 1924, JCPenney is a major retailer with approximately 1,170 department
stores in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, Mexico and Chile. The major portion of
JCPenney's business consists of providing merchandise and services to
consumers through department stores that include catalog departments. JCPenney
markets predominantly family apparel, jewelry, shoes, accessories, and home
furnishings. In addition, JCPenney, through its wholly-owned subsidiary,
Eckerd Corporation ("Eckerd"), operates a chain of approximately 2,740
drugstores located throughout the northeast, southeast, and Sunbelt regions of
the United States. JCPenney also has several direct marketing services
subsidiaries, the principal of which is J. C. Penney Life Insurance Company,
which market life, health, accident and credit insurance as well as a growing
portfolio of non-insurance products.
 
  JCP Card Bank, a national banking association and a wholly-owned subsidiary
of JCPenney, was chartered by the United States Comptroller of the Currency on
July 16, 1993. JCP Card Bank is in the business of issuing credit cards, and
originating credit card accounts and accounts receivable. It issues the
JCPenney credit card, which can be used to purchase merchandise and services
from JCPenney and its affiliates. From time to time JCP Card Bank performs
other banking services and purchases and sells credit card and bankcard
receivables.
 
  JCP Card Bank's activities are governed by the laws of the United States,
including the federal Bank Holding Company and National Bank Acts and their
accompanying regulations, and the laws of the State of Delaware. Under these
laws JCP Card Bank can engage in certain credit card operations on a national
basis and accept certain limited types of deposits. JCP Card Bank does not
make commercial loans. JCPenney and JCP Card Bank have entered into
contractual arrangements involving sales and servicing of accounts and
receivables. Under such arrangements, JCPenney acts as servicer for the
accounts in the JCPenney Portfolio. JCP Card Bank has granted to JCPenney all
of its right, title and interest in and to any receivables originated by JCP
Card Bank in Accounts which are, or will be, made part of the Trust.
 
  The Trust was formed for this and like transactions pursuant to the Pooling
and Servicing Agreement and any Supplements thereto and prior to formation had
no assets or obligations. The Trust may not engage in any business activity
but rather receives and holds the Receivables and the other assets of the
Trust and proceeds therefrom, issues additional Series, makes payments on the
Certificates and engages in related activities. As a consequence, the Trust is
not expected to have any need for, or source of, capital resources other than
the assets of the Trust. The Trust is, however, completely dependent upon
JCPenney and its affiliates for the generation of Receivables because the
credit cards in the JCPenney Portfolio can only be used to purchase
merchandise and services from JCPenney and its affiliates. See "Risk Factors--
Dependence on JCPenney and its Affiliates." In addition, not all JCPenney
credit sales will generate Receivables. The JCPenney credit card competes with
American Express, MasterCard, VISA, Discover and debit cards for JCPenney
credit sales. See "JCPenney's Credit Card Business--General."
 
                                USE OF PROCEEDS
 
  JCPR will apply the entire net proceeds received from the sale of the
Certificates to pay to JCPenney a portion of the purchase price of the
Receivables. JCPenney has informed JCPR that JCPenney will use such proceeds
for general corporate purposes.
 
                                      26
<PAGE>
 
                             MATURITY ASSUMPTIONS
 
  The Pooling and Servicing Agreement provides that the Class A
Certificateholders will not begin to receive payments of principal until the
earlier of    ,    , or the first Distribution Date following the Monthly
Period in which a Pay Out Event shall have occurred. The Class B
Certificateholders will not begin to receive payments of principal until the
final principal payment on the Class A Certificates has been made. A "Pay Out
Event" occurs, either automatically or after specified notice, upon (a)
failure of JCPR or JCPenney to make certain payments or transfers of funds for
the benefit of Certificateholders, or to perform any other agreement in the
Pooling and Servicing Agreement or, to the extent assigned to the Trust, the
Receivables Purchase Agreement, within the time periods specified in the
Pooling and Servicing Agreement, (b) material breaches of certain
representations or warranties of JCPR or JCPenney, (c) certain insolvency
events relating to JCPR or JCPenney, (d) the occurrence of a Servicer Default
(as hereinafter defined) which would have a material adverse effect on the
Certificateholders, (e) the failure of JCPR to transfer Receivables from
Additional Accounts to the Trust within 30 days after notice from the Trustee
to JCPR that the average amount of the JCPR Amount for any 30-day period has
represented less than 10% (or such greater or lesser percentage as may be
specified in future Supplements) of the average amount of Principal
Receivables for such 30-day period, (f) the Trust becoming an "investment
company" within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended,
or (g) a reduction in the average Portfolio Yield (as hereinafter defined) for
any three consecutive Monthly Periods, to a rate which is less than the Base
Rate. The term "Portfolio Yield" means, with respect to any Monthly Period,
the annualized percentage equivalent of a fraction the numerator of which is
the amount of Finance Charge Receivables deposited in the Finance Charge
Account and allocated to the Investor Amount, less the amount of the Investor
Default Amount (as hereinafter defined), in both cases for such Monthly
Period, and the denominator of which is the Investor Amount, as of the last
day of the preceding Monthly Period. The term "Cardholder Monthly Payment
Rate" means, with respect to any Monthly Period, a fraction, the numerator of
which is the total collections processed during such Monthly Period and the
denominator of which is the total Receivables at the beginning of such Monthly
Period. The term "Defaulted Account" means an Account in which JCPenney, as
Servicer, has charged off the Receivables in accordance with its customary
servicing practices and procedures. Although JCPR believes that the likelihood
of a Pay Out Event occurring is remote, there can be no assurance that a Pay
Out Event will not occur. See "Description of the Certificates and the Pooling
and Servicing Agreement--Pay Out Events" and "Risk Factors--Payments and
Maturity."
 
  Controlled Amortization Period. On each Transfer Date during the Controlled
Amortization Period, an amount equal to, for each Monthly Period, the least of
(a) the Available Investor Principal Collections, (b) the applicable
"Controlled Distribution Amount," which is equal to the sum of the applicable
Controlled Amortization Amount for such Monthly Period and the applicable
Deficit Controlled Amortization Amount, if any, and (c) the sum of the Class A
Investor Interest and the Class B Investor Interest will be distributed
monthly on each Distribution Date to the Class A Certificateholders and,
following payment of the Class A Investor Interest in full, to the Class B
Certificateholders. If, for any Monthly Period, the Available Investor
Principal Collections for such Monthly Period exceed the applicable Controlled
Distribution Amount, any such excess will be paid to the Class C Interest
Holder to the extent that the Class C Investor Interest exceeds the Required
Class C Investor Interest. After the Class A Investor Interest and the Class B
Investor Interest have each been paid in full, Available Investor Principal
Collections, to the extent required, will be distributed to the Class C
Interest Holder on each Distribution Date until the earlier of the date the
Class C Investor Interest has been paid in full and the termination of Series
E. Amounts are expected to be available to pay the Class A Investor Interest
in full by the Class A Expected Final Distribution Date and (after the payment
of the Class A Investor Interest in full) the Class B Investor Interest by the
Class B Expected Final Distribution Date. Although it is anticipated that
collections of Principal Receivables will be available on each Transfer Date
during the Controlled Amortization Period to make a distribution of the
applicable Controlled Distribution Amount and that the Class A Investor
Interest will be paid to the Class A Certificateholders by the Class A
Expected Final Distribution Date and the Class B Investor Interest will be
paid to the Class B Certificateholders by the Class B Expected Final
Distribution Date, no assurance can be given in this regard.
 
                                      27
<PAGE>
 
  Rapid Amortization Period. If a Pay Out Event occurs during the Controlled
Amortization Period, the Rapid Amortization Period will commence and, to the
extent that the Class A Investor Interest has not been paid in full, the Class
A Certificateholders will be entitled to monthly payments of principal equal
to the Available Investor Principal Collections until the earlier of the date
on which the Class A Certificates have been paid in full and the termination
of Series E. After the Class A Certificates have been paid in full and if the
termination of Series E has not occurred, Available Investor Principal
Collections will be paid to the Class B Certificateholders on each
Distribution Date until the earlier of the date on which the Class B
Certificates have been paid in full and the termination of Series E.
 
  The Certificates are also subject to optional repurchase by JCPR. See
"Description of the Certificates and the Pooling and Servicing Agreement--
Repurchase; Final Payment of Principal; Termination."
 
  The following table sets forth the highest and lowest cardholder monthly
payment rates for the JCPenney Portfolio during any month in the periods shown
and the average cardholder monthly payment rates for all months during the
periods shown, in each case calculated as a percentage of total opening
monthly account balances during the periods shown. Payments shown in the table
include amounts which would be deemed payments of Principal Receivables and
Finance Charge Receivables with respect to the Accounts.
 
                       CARDHOLDER MONTHLY PAYMENT RATES
                          FOR THE JCPENNEY PORTFOLIO
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                         SIX MONTHS ENDED     FISCAL YEAR (1)
                                         ------------------  -----------------
PAYMENT                                      ,         ,
 RATE                                      1998      1997    1997  1996  1995
- -------                                  --------  --------  ----- ----- -----
 <S>                                     <C>       <C>       <C>   <C>   <C>
 Lowest.................................
 Highest................................
 Average................................
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) Fiscal year ends on the last Saturday in January of the following year.
 
  The amount of collections on Receivables varies from month to month for many
reasons, including seasonal variations, general economic conditions and
consumer spending and borrowing patterns. There can be no assurance that
collections of Principal Receivables with respect to the Accounts will be
similar to the historical experience set forth above. See "Risk Factors--
Payments and Maturity."
 
                        RECEIVABLE YIELD CONSIDERATIONS
 
  The yield per active account in the JCPenney Portfolio for each of the
periods shown is set forth in the following table. Revenues from finance
charges and fees will be affected by numerous factors, including the rates of
the finance charges on Principal Receivables, the ratio of major purchase
charges to regular charges, the amount of other fees paid by cardholders, the
percentage of cardholders who pay off their balances in full each month and do
not incur finance charges on purchases and changes in delinquency rates. See
"Risk Factors--Payments and Maturity."
 
                                      28
<PAGE>
 
                   JCPENNEY PORTFOLIO YIELD PER ACCOUNT (1)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                   SIX MONTHS ENDED     FISCAL YEAR (2)
                                   ------------------  -------------------
                                       ,         ,
                                     1998      1997    1997   1996   1995
                                   --------  --------  -----  -----  -----
<S>                                <C>       <C>       <C>    <C>    <C>
Average Active Account Fees and
 Charges (3).....................
Average Account Balance (4)......
Yield from Fees and Charges (5)..
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) Includes commercial and Puerto Rican accounts, which will not be included
    in the Accounts, as well as de minimus balances in accounts of U.S.
    cardholders in Mexico and Chile.
(2) Fiscal year ends on the last Saturday in January of the following year.
(3) Fees and charges are comprised of finance charges, late fees and returned
    check charges. Average active account fees and charges are presented net
    of adjustments made pursuant to JCPenney's normal servicing procedures,
    including removal of incorrect or disputed finance charges.
(4) Average account balances include purchases and accrued and unpaid finance
    and other charges and are calculated based on the average of the account
    balances on the last day of each fiscal month during the periods shown for
    accounts with outstanding balances.
(5) Yields are annualized in the case of the six-month periods ended    , 1998
    and    , 1997.
 
  The yields for the JCPenney Portfolio shown in the above table are comprised
of two components: finance charges and other fees paid by cardholders. As
payment rates decline, balances subject to finance charges tend to grow,
assuming continued purchasing activity. Accordingly, under these
circumstances, revenue from finance charges normally increases. Revenues from
finance charges also vary somewhat within a fiscal year due to the seasonal
nature of JCPenney's business. Approximately one-third of JCPenney's annual
credit sales generally occur during the JCPenney fiscal quarter ending on the
last Saturday in January. Fees billed were less than 7% of finance charges for
each of the periods shown. See "Risk Factors--Payments and Maturity."
 
    DESCRIPTION OF THE CERTIFICATES AND THE POOLING AND SERVICING AGREEMENT
 
  The Certificates (and the Class C Investor Interest, which is not being
offered hereby) will be issued pursuant to the Pooling and Servicing Agreement
entered into among JCPR, as originator of the Trust and seller of the
Certificates, JCPenney, as Servicer of the Receivables, and     , as Trustee
for the Certificateholders. (Copies of the Pooling and Servicing Agreement and
the Series E Supplement, which is a part thereof, are filed as exhibits to the
Registration Statement of which this Prospectus is a part.) Pursuant to the
Pooling and Servicing Agreement, JCPR, JCPenney and the Trustee may execute
further Supplements thereto in order to issue new Series, including the Series
E Supplement relating to Series E. See "Exchanges." The following summary
describes certain terms of the Pooling and Servicing Agreement and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to the Pooling and Servicing Agreement.
 
GENERAL
 
  The Certificates will represent undivided interests in the Trust, including
the right to the Investor Percentage of all cardholder payments on the
Receivables in the Trust. See "--Investor Percentage and JCPR Percentage."
Each Class A Certificate represents the right to receive monthly payments of
interest at the Class A Certificate Rate and payments of principal, to the
extent of the Class A Investor Interest, on each Distribution Date with
respect to the Controlled Amortization Period or the Rapid Amortization
Period, as the case may be, funded from collections of Finance Charge
Receivables, Net Recoveries and Principal Receivables, respectively, allocated
to the Class A Investor Interest and certain other available amounts. Each
Class B Certificate represents the right to receive monthly payments of
interest at the applicable Class B Certificate Rate and payments of principal,
to the extent of the Class B Investor Interest, on each Distribution Date with
respect to the Controlled Amortization Period or the Rapid Amortization
Period, as the case may be, after the Class A Certificates have been paid in
 
                                      29
<PAGE>
 
full, funded from collections of Finance Charge Receivables, Net Recoveries
and Principal Receivables, respectively, allocated to the Class B Investor
Interest and certain other available amounts. In addition to representing the
right to payment from collections of Finance Charge Receivables, Net
Recoveries and Principal Receivables, each Class A Certificate also represents
the right to receive payments from Excess Spread, Reallocated Principal
Collections and certain other available amounts. In addition to representing
the right to payment from collections of Finance Charge Receivables, Net
Recoveries and Principal Receivables, each Class B Certificate also represents
the right to receive payments from Excess Spread, Reallocated Class C
Principal Collections and certain other available amounts.
 
  The JCPR Amount is evidenced by the Exchangeable Certificate and represents
an undivided interest in the Trust, including the right to a floating
percentage ("JCPR Percentage") of all cardholder payments on the Receivables
in the Trust. See "--Investor Percentage and JCPR Percentage."
 
  During the Revolving Period, the Investor Amount will remain constant except
in certain limited circumstances. The amount of Principal Receivables in the
Trust, however, will vary as new Principal Receivables are added to the Trust
and others are paid or removed. The JCPR Amount will fluctuate, therefore, to
reflect the changes in the amount of the Principal Receivables in the Trust.
During the Controlled Amortization Period or the Rapid Amortization Period, as
the case may be, the Investor Amount will decline as cardholder payments of
Principal Receivables are collected, allocated among the outstanding Series
and distributed monthly to the Certificateholders and JCPR (as the holder of
the Exchangeable Certificate). As a result, the JCPR Amount during the
Controlled Amortization Period or the Rapid Amortization Period, as the case
may be, will generally increase relative to the Investor Amount to reflect the
reductions in the Investor Amount and will also change to reflect the
variations in the amount of Principal Receivables in the Trust. The JCPR
Amount will be reduced as the result of any Exchanges including the Exchange
under which the Certificates will be issued. See"--Exchanges."
 
  The property of the Trust consists of the Receivables, all monies due or to
become due in respect thereof, all proceeds of the Receivables and proceeds of
credit insurance policies relating to the Receivables and all monies on
deposit in certain bank accounts of the Trust. The Trust is also entitled to
the benefits of any letter of credit or other form of enhancement issued or to
be issued with respect to any other Series. The Certificateholders will not be
entitled to any benefits under any such letter of credit or other form of
credit enhancement issued with respect to any other Series.
 
  The Certificates will initially be represented by Certificates which will be
registered in the name of a nominee of DTC except as set forth below. The
Certificates will be available for purchase in minimum denominations of $1,000
and integral multiples thereof in book-entry form. JCPR has been informed by
DTC that DTC's nominee will be Cede. Accordingly, Cede is expected to be the
holder of record of the Certificates. No Certificate Owner will be entitled to
receive a certificate representing such person's interest in the Certificates,
except as described under "--Definitive Certificates." Unless and until
Definitive Certificates are issued under the limited circumstances described
herein, all references herein to actions by Certificateholders shall refer to
actions taken by DTC upon instructions from its Participants (as hereinafter
defined), and all references herein to distributions, notices, reports and
statements to Certificateholders shall refer to distributions, notices,
reports and statements to DTC or Cede, as the registered holder of the
Certificates, as the case may be. See "--Book-Entry Registration" and "--
Definitive Certificates."
 
BOOK-ENTRY REGISTRATION
 
  Certificateholders may hold their Certificates through DTC (in the United
States) or Cedel Bank, societe anonyme ("Cedel") or Euroclear (in Europe) if
they are participants in such systems, or indirectly through organizations
that are participants in such systems.
 
  Cede, as nominee for DTC, will hold the global Certificates. Cedel and
Euroclear will hold omnibus positions on behalf of the Cedel Participants and
the Euroclear Participants, respectively, through customers' securities
accounts in Cedel's and Euroclear's names on the books of their respective
depositaries (collectively, the "Depositaries") which in turn will hold such
positions in customers' securities accounts in the Depositaries' names on the
books of DTC.
 
                                      30
<PAGE>
 
  DTC is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the laws of the State
of New York, a "banking organization" within the meaning of the New York
banking law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a "clearing corporation"
within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code and a "clearing
agency" registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange
Act. DTC was created to hold securities for its participating organizations
("Participants") and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities
transactions among Participants through electronic book-entry charges in
accounts of its Participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical
delivery of certificates. Participants include securities brokers and dealers
(including the Underwriter), banks, trust companies and clearing corporations
and may include certain other organizations, some of which (and/or their
representatives) own DTC. Indirect access to the DTC system also is available
to others such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear
through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Participant, either
directly or indirectly ("Indirect Participants").
 
  Transfers between Participants will occur in accordance with DTC rules.
Transfers between Cedel Participants and Euroclear Participants will occur in
the ordinary way in accordance with their applicable rules and operating
procedures.
 
  Cross-market transfers between persons holding directly or indirectly
through DTC, on the one hand, and directly or indirectly through Cedel
Participants or Euroclear Participants, on the other, will be effected in DTC
in accordance with DTC rules on behalf of the relevant European international
clearing system by its Depositary; however, such cross-market transactions
will require delivery of instructions to the relevant European international
clearing system by the counterparty in such system in accordance with its
rules and procedures and within its established deadlines (European time). The
relevant European international clearing system will, if the transaction meets
its settlement requirements, deliver instructions to its Depositary to take
action to effect final settlement on its behalf by delivering or receiving
securities in DTC, and making or receiving payment in accordance with normal
procedures for same-day funds settlement applicable to DTC. Cedel Participants
and Euroclear Participants may not deliver instructions directly to the
Depositaries.
 
  Because of time-zone differences, credits of securities in Cedel or
Euroclear as a result of a transaction with a Participant will be made during
the subsequent securities settlement processing, dated the business day
following the DTC settlement date, and such credits or any transactions in
such securities settled during such processing will be reported to the
relevant Cedel Participant or Euroclear Participant on such business day. Cash
received in Cedel or Euroclear as a result of sales of securities by or
through a Cedel Participant or a Euroclear Participant to a DTC Participant
will be received with value on the DTC settlement date but will be available
in the relevant Cedel or Euroclear cash account only as of the business day
following settlement in DTC.
 
  Certificate Owners that are not Participants or Indirect Participants but
desire to purchase, sell or otherwise transfer ownership of, or an interest
in, Certificates may do so only through Participants or Indirect Participants.
In addition, Certificate Owners will receive all distributions of principal of
and interest on the Certificates from the Trustee through DTC and its
Participants. Under a book-entry format, Certificate Owners may experience
some delay in their receipt of payments since such payments will be forwarded
by the Trustee to Cede, as nominee for DTC. DTC will forward such payments to
its Participants which thereafter will forward them to Indirect Participants
or Certificate Owners. It is anticipated that the only "Certificateholder"
will be Cede, as nominee of DTC. Certificate Owners will not be recognized by
the Trustee as Certificateholders, as such term is used in the Pooling and
Servicing Agreement, and Certificate Owners will only be permitted to exercise
the rights of Certificateholders indirectly through DTC and its Participants.
 
  Under the rules, regulations and procedures creating and affecting DTC and
its operations ("Rules"), DTC is required to make book-entry transfers among
Participants on whose behalf it acts with respect to the Certificates and is
required to receive and transmit distributions of principal of and interest on
the Certificates. Participants and Indirect Participants with which
Certificate Owners have accounts with respect to the Certificates
 
                                      31
<PAGE>
 
similarly are required to make book-entry transfers and receive and transmit
such payments on behalf of their customer Certificate Owners. Accordingly,
although Certificate Owners will not possess Certificates, the Rules provide a
mechanism by which Certificate Owners will receive payments and will be able
to transfer their interests.
 
  Because DTC can only act on behalf of Participants, which in turn act on
behalf of Indirect Participants and certain banks, the ability of a
Certificate Owner to pledge Certificates to persons or entities that do not
participate in the DTC system, or otherwise to take actions in respect of such
Certificates, may be limited due to the lack of a physical certificate for
such Certificates. The rules applicable to DTC and Participants are on file
with the Securities and Exchange Commission. DTC currently accepts only notes
denominated and payable in U.S. dollars.
 
  DTC has advised JCPR that it will take any action permitted to be taken by a
Certificateholder under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement only at the
direction of one or more Participants to whose account with DTC the
Certificates are credited. DTC may take conflicting actions with respect to
other undivided interests to the extent that such actions are taken on behalf
of Participants whose holdings include such undivided interests.
 
  Cedel is incorporated under the laws of Luxembourg as a professional
depository. Cedel holds securities for its participant organizations ("Cedel
Participants") and facilitates the clearance and settlement of securities
transactions between Cedel Participants through electronic book-entry changes
in accounts of Cedel Participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical
movement of certificates. Transactions may be settled in Cedel in any of 28
currencies, including United States dollars. Cedel provides to its Cedel
Participants, among other things, services for safekeeping, administration,
clearance and settlement of internationally traded securities and securities
lending and borrowing. Cedel interfaces with domestic markets in several
countries. As a professional depository, Cedel is subject to regulation by the
Luxembourg Monetary Institute. Cedel Participants are recognized financial
institutions around the world, including underwriters, securities brokers and
dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other
organizations and may include the Underwriter. Indirect access to Cedel is
also available to others, such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies
that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Cedel
Participant, either directly or indirectly.
 
  Euroclear was created in 1968 to hold securities for participants of the
Euroclear System ("Euroclear Participants") and to clear and settle
transactions between Euroclear Participants through simultaneous electronic
book-entry delivery against payment, thereby eliminating the need for physical
movement of certificates and any risk from lack of simultaneous transfers of
securities and cash. Transactions may now be settled in any of 27 currencies,
including United States dollars. The Euroclear System includes various other
services, including securities lending and borrowing and interfaces with
domestic markets in several countries generally similar to the arrangements
for cross-market transfers with DTC described above. The Euroclear System is
operated by Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York, Belgium office (the
"Euroclear Operator" or "Euroclear"), under contract with Euroclear Clearance
System, S.C., a Belgian cooperative corporation (the "Cooperative"). All
operations are conducted by the Euroclear Operator, and all Euroclear
securities clearance accounts and Euroclear cash accounts are accounts with
the Euroclear Operator, not the Cooperative. The Cooperative establishes
policy for the Euroclear system on behalf of Euroclear Participants. Euroclear
Participants include banks (including central banks), securities brokers and
dealers and other professional financial intermediaries and may include the
Underwriter. Indirect access to the Euroclear system is also available to
other firms that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a
Euroclear Participant, either directly or indirectly.
 
  The Euroclear Operator is the Belgian branch of a New York banking
corporation which is a member bank of the Federal Reserve System. As such, it
is regulated and examined by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System and the New York State Banking Department, as well as the Belgian
Banking Commission.
 
  Securities clearance accounts and cash accounts with the Euroclear Operator
are governed by the Terms and Conditions Governing Use of Euroclear and the
related Operating Procedures of the Euroclear System and applicable Belgian
law (collectively, the "Terms and Conditions"). The Terms and Conditions
govern transfers of securities and cash within the Euroclear System,
withdrawal of securities and cash from the Euroclear System, and receipts of
payments with respect to securities in the Euroclear system. All securities in
the Euroclear System
 
                                      32
<PAGE>
 
are held on a fungible basis without attribution of specific certificates to
specific securities clearance accounts. The Euroclear Operator acts under the
Terms and Conditions only on behalf of Euroclear Participants and has no
record of or relationship with persons holding through Euroclear Participants.
 
  Distributions with respect to Certificates held through Cedel or Euroclear
will be credited to the cash accounts of Cedel Participants or Euroclear
Participants in accordance with the relevant system's rules and procedures, to
the extent received by its Depositary. Such distributions will be subject to
tax reporting in accordance with relevant United States tax laws and
regulations. Cedel or the Euroclear Operator, as the case may be, will take
any other action permitted to be taken by a Certificateholder under the
Agreement on behalf of a Cedel participant or Euroclear Participant only in
accordance with its relevant rules and procedures and subject to its
Depositary's ability to effect such actions on its behalf through DTC.
 
  Although DTC, Cedel and Euroclear have agreed to the foregoing procedures in
order to facilitate transfers of Certificates among participants of DTC, Cedel
and Euroclear, they are under no obligation to perform or continue to perform
such procedures and such procedures may be discontinued at any time.
 
DEFINITIVE CERTIFICATES
 
  The Certificates will be issued in fully registered, certificated form to
Certificate Owners or their nominees ("Definitive Certificates"), rather than
to DTC or its nominee, only if (i) JCPR advises the Trustee in writing that
DTC is no longer willing or able properly to discharge its responsibilities as
depository with respect to the Certificates and the Trustee or JCPR is unable
to locate a qualified successor, (ii) JCPR, at its option, elects to terminate
the book-entry system through DTC with respect to the Certificates or (iii)
after the occurrence of a Servicer Default, Certificate Owners representing in
the aggregate not less than 50% of the Investor Amount advise the Trustee and
DTC through Participants in writing that the continuation of a book-entry
system through DTC (or a successor thereto) is no longer in the best interest
of the Certificate Owners.
 
  Upon the occurrence of any one of the events described in the immediately
preceding paragraph, the Trustee is required to notify all Participants of the
availability through DTC of Definitive Certificates. Upon surrender by DTC of
the Definitive Certificate representing the Certificates and receipt of
instructions for re-registration, the Trustee will issue the Certificates as
Definitive Certificates, and thereafter the Trustee will recognize the holders
of such Definitive Certificates as holders under the Pooling and Servicing
Agreement ("Holders").
 
  Distribution of principal and interest on the Certificates will be made by
the Trustee directly to Holders of Definitive Certificates in accordance with
the procedures set forth herein and in the Pooling and Servicing Agreement.
Interest payments and any principal payments on each Distribution Date will be
made to Holders in whose names the Definitive Certificates were registered at
the close of business on the related Record Date. Distributions will be made
by check mailed to the address of such Holder as it appears on the register
maintained by the Trustee. The final payment on any Certificate (whether a
Definitive Certificate or Certificates registered in the name of Cede
representing the Certificates), however, will be made only upon presentation
and surrender of such Certificates at the office or agency specified in the
notice of final distribution to Certificateholders. The Trustee will provide
such notice to registered Certificateholders not later than the fifth day of
the month of such final distribution.
 
  Definitive Certificates will be transferable and exchangeable at the offices
of the Transfer Agent and Registrar, which shall initially be the Trustee. No
service charge will be imposed for any registration of transfer or exchange,
but the Transfer Agent and Registrar may require payment of a sum sufficient
to cover any tax or other governmental charge imposed in connection therewith.
 
INTEREST DISTRIBUTIONS
 
  Interest will accrue on the Class A Certificates at the Class A Certificate
Rate and on the Class B Certificates at the Class B Certificate Rate from the
Closing Date. Interest will be distributed on     , 1998 and on the
 
                                      33
<PAGE>
 
15th day of each following month thereafter (or, if such 15th day is not a
business day, the next succeeding business day) (each, a "Distribution Date").
Interest payments on the Class A Certificates and the Class B Certificates on
any Distribution Date will be calculated on the outstanding principal balance
of the Class A Certificates and the outstanding principal balance of the Class
B Certificates, as applicable, as of the preceding Record Date, except that
interest for the first Distribution Date will accrue at the applicable
Certificate Rate on the initial outstanding principal balance of the Class A
Certificates and the initial outstanding principal balance of the Class B
Certificates, as applicable, from the Closing Date. Interest due on the
Certificates but not paid on any Distribution Date will be payable on the next
succeeding Distribution Date together with additional interest (the
"Additional Interest") on such amount at the applicable Certificate Rate plus
2% per annum (such amount with respect to the Class A Certificates, the "Class
A Additional Interest," and such amount with respect to the Class B
Certificates, the "Class B Additional Interest"). Such Additional Interest
shall accrue on the same basis as interest on the Certificates, and shall
accrue from the Distribution Date such overdue interest became due, to but
excluding the Distribution Date on which such Additional Interest is paid.
Interest payments on the Class A Certificates on any Distribution Date will be
paid from Class A Available Funds for the related Monthly Period and, to the
extent such Class A Available Funds are insufficient to pay such interest,
from Excess Spread and Reallocated Principal Collections (to the extent
available) for such Monthly Period. Interest payments on the Class B
Certificates on any Distribution Date will be paid from Class B Available
Funds for the related Monthly Period and, to the extent such Class B Available
Funds are insufficient to pay such interest, from Excess Spread and
Reallocated Class C Principal Collections (to the extent available) remaining
after certain other payments have been made with respect to the Class A
Certificates.
 
  "Class A Available Funds" means, with respect to any Monthly Period, an
amount equal to the Class A Floating Allocation of collections of Finance
Charge Receivables and Net Recoveries allocated to the Investor Interest and
deposited in the Finance Charge Account with respect to such Monthly Period.
"Class B Available Funds" means, with respect to any Monthly Period, an amount
equal to the Class B Floating Allocation of collections of Finance Charge
Receivables and Net Recoveries allocated to the Investor Interest and
deposited in the Finance Charge Account with respect to such Monthly Period.
 
  Interest will be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of
twelve 30-day months.
 
PRINCIPAL DISTRIBUTIONS
 
  On each Transfer Date relating to the Revolving Period (which begins on the
Closing Date and ends at the commencement of the Controlled Amortization
Period or, if earlier, the Rapid Amortization Period), unless a reduction in
the Required Class C Investor Interest has occurred, collections of Principal
Receivables allocable to the Investor Interest will, subject to certain
limitations, including the allocation of any Reallocated Principal Collections
with respect to the related Monthly Period to pay the Class A Required Amount
and the Class B Required Amount, be paid to JCPR.
 
  On each Distribution Date relating to the Controlled Amortization Period,
the Trustee will distribute an amount equal to the least of (a) Available
Investor Principal Collections with respect to such Transfer Date, (b) the
applicable Controlled Distribution Amount and (c) the sum of the Class A
Investor Interest and the Class B Investor Interest, first to Class A
Certificateholders (in an amount not to exceed the Class A Investor Interest)
and then to the Class B Certificateholders (in an amount not to exceed the
Class B Investor Interest). On each Transfer Date, if a reduction in the
Required Class C Investor Interest has occurred, a portion of collections of
Principal Receivables allocable to the Investor Interest will be paid to the
Class C Interest Holder to reduce the Class C Investor Interest to the
Required Class C Investor Interest.
 
  "Available Investor Principal Collections" means, with respect to any
Monthly Period, an amount equal to (a) collections of Principal Receivables
received during such Monthly Period allocable to the Investor Interest, minus
(b) the amount of Reallocated Principal Collections with respect to such
Monthly Period used to fund the Required Amount.
 
 
                                      34
<PAGE>
 
  On each Distribution Date with respect to the Rapid Amortization Period, the
Class A Certificateholders will be entitled to receive Available Investor
Principal Collections for the related Monthly Period in an amount up to the
Class A Investor Interest until the earlier of the date the Class A
Certificates are paid in full and the termination of Series E. After payment
in full of the Class A Investor Interest, the Class B Certificateholders will
be entitled to receive, on each Distribution Date with respect to the Rapid
Amortization Period, Available Investor Principal Collections for the related
Monthly Period in an amount up to the Class B Investor Interest until the
earlier of the date the Class B Certificates are paid in full and the
termination of Series E. After payment in full of the Class B Investor
Interest, the Class C Investor Interest Holder will be entitled to receive, on
each Distribution Date, Available Investor Principal Collections until the
earlier of the date the Class C Investor Interest is paid in full and the
termination of Series E.
 
EXCHANGES
 
  The Pooling and Servicing Agreement provides that the Trust will issue two
types of certificates: (1) one or more Series of certificates (including the
Certificates) which are transferable and have the characteristics described
below and (2) the Exchangeable Certificate, which evidences the JCPR Amount
and which is initially held by JCPR and is generally not transferable except
for certain permitted transfers to JCPenney and its affiliates. The Pooling
and Servicing Agreement also provides that, pursuant to any one or more
Supplements, JCPR may deliver the Exchangeable Certificate to the Trustee in
exchange for one or more new Series and a reissued Exchangeable Certificate.
Under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement, JCPR may define, with respect to
any such Series: (a) its name or designation, (b) its initial principal
amount, (c) its interest rate (or formula for the determination thereof), (d)
a date on which it will begin amortization of the principal amount thereof,
(e) the percentage used to calculate monthly servicing fees for such Series,
(f) the issuer of an irrevocable letter of credit or other form of credit
enhancement with respect thereto, if any, (g) the amount or amounts available
under such letter of credit or other form of credit enhancement, if any, (h)
the outstanding principal amount, expressed as a percentage of the initial
principal amount, at which point the certificates of such Series will be
subject to or required to be repurchased by JCPR, (i) the issuer of a
repurchase letter of credit or other form of credit enhancement with respect
thereto, if any, (j) the amount, if any, available under such repurchase
letter of credit or other form of credit enhancement in respect of any
repurchase or full payment of such Series as described in clause (n) below,
(k) its base rate, (1) the minimum amount or amounts available under such
letter of credit or other form of credit enhancement, if any, as a percentage
of the outstanding principal amount of such Series, (m) its facility fee
percentage, if any, (n) any terms relating to the repurchase or full payment
of such Series, (o) its final maturity date, (p) the minimum Cardholder
Monthly Payment Rate, if any, for such Series, (q) the minimum amount of the
JCPR Amount required to be maintained as a percentage of the amount of
Principal Receivables (which percentage, subject to any limitations
specifically set forth in the Supplement relating to any then outstanding
Series, will be applicable to determine whether any pay out event, or other
similar event has occurred with respect to all Series outstanding at the time
such Supplement is executed), (r) the extent to which, if any, any portions of
payments to be made to JCPR or the holder of the Exchangeable Certificate
shall be made available for distribution to the certificateholders of such
Series and (s) any other terms permitted by the Pooling and Servicing
Agreement including, without limitation, (i) the method of determining
investor percentages for such Series, (ii) the method of allocating and paying
collections allocable to such Series, (iii) provisions creating different or
additional security or other credit enhancement for such Series, (iv)
provisions subordinating such Series to other Series or other Series (except
the Certificates) to such Series to the extent permitted in the Supplement
relating to such other Series and (v) any other amendment or supplement to the
Pooling and Servicing Agreement which is made applicable only to such Series
(all such terms, the "Principal Terms" of such Series). JCPR may offer any
such Series to the public under a prospectus or other disclosure document in
transactions either registered under the Securities Act or exempt from
registration thereunder directly, through one or more underwriters, in fixed-
price offerings or in negotiated transactions or otherwise. Any such Series
may be issued in fully registered or book-entry form in minimum denominations
determined by JCPR. Series E is the fifth Series to be issued by the Trust.
JCPR may offer, from time to time, additional Series issued by the Trust. See
"--Prior Issuance of Certificates Outstanding" with respect to the Principal
Terms of the Series B and Series C Certificates, the two outstanding Series
issued by the Trust.
 
 
                                      35
<PAGE>
 
  The Pooling and Servicing Agreement provides that JCPR may perform Exchanges
and define Principal Terms such that each Series has a period during which
amortization of the principal amount thereof is intended to occur and which
may have a different length and begin on a different date than such period of
any other Series. Further, events that cause the early amortization of the
principal amount of any Series in the manner generally described under the
section entitled "Controlled Amortization Period" and "Rapid Amortization
Period" in the Prospectus Summary hereof may occur with respect to certain
Series but not with respect to other Series. Thus, certain Series may not be
amortizing, while other Series are amortizing. Moreover, each Series may have
the benefit of an irrevocable letter of credit or other form of credit
enhancement issued by an issuer different from the issuer of the letter of
credit with respect to any other Series. A supplement may provide for the
accumulation of principal payment or other mechanisms so the entire principal
amount of a particular series is distributed on one or more dates. Under the
Pooling and Servicing Agreement, the Trustee will hold each such letter of
credit or other form of credit enhancement only on behalf of the Series to
which it relates. After payments of amounts in respect of the certificates of
any outstanding Series, any remaining collections of Finance Charge
Receivables with respect to any Series will be paid to the letter of credit
bank that issued the letter of credit relating to such Series, or paid to JCPR
with respect to any Series which is initially issued without the benefit of
any form of credit enhancement. The Pooling and Servicing Agreement also
provides that JCPR may specify different interest rates and monthly servicing
fees and facility fees with respect to each Series. Finally, JCPR has the
option under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement to vary between Series the
terms upon which such Series may be repurchased by JCPR. There is no limit on
the number of Exchanges that JCPR may effect under the Pooling and Servicing
Agreement. The Trust will terminate only as provided in the Pooling and
Servicing Agreement.
 
  Under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement and pursuant to a Supplement, an
Exchange may only occur upon the satisfaction of certain conditions provided
for in the Pooling and Servicing Agreement. JCPR may perform an Exchange by
notifying the Trustee at least five business days in advance (using an
"Exchange Notice") of the date upon which the Exchange is to occur ("Exchange
Date"). Each Exchange Notice will state the names of any Series to be issued
on the related Exchange Date and, with respect to each such Series: (a) its
initial principal amount, (b) its interest rate (or formula used to determine
such rate) and (c) the issuer of the letter of credit, repurchase letter of
credit or other form of credit enhancement, if any, which is expected to
provide credit enhancement with respect to it. On such Exchange Date, the
Pooling and Servicing Agreement provides that the Trustee will only issue any
such Series upon delivery to it of the following: (a) a Supplement in form
satisfactory to the Trustee signed by JCPR and JCPenney and specifying the
Principal Terms of such Series, (b) the letter of credit, repurchase letter of
credit or other instrument providing credit enhancement, if any, (c) if a
letter of credit or other form of credit enhancement is required by the
Supplement, a reimbursement or other appropriate agreement with respect
thereto executed by JCPR and the issuer of the letter of credit or other
credit enhancement instrument, (d) letters from each Rating Agency confirming
that the issuance of such Series will not result in the withdrawal or
reduction of the rating of any prior outstanding Series, (e) an officer's
certificate of JCPR to the effect that the issuance of such Series will not,
in the reasonable judgment of JCPR, cause a pay out event or similar event
with respect to any Series or an event which, with notice or lapse of time, or
both, would cause such an event, in each case with respect to any outstanding
Series, including the Certificates, (f) an opinion of counsel to the effect
that the certificates of such Series should be characterized as indebtedness
of JCPR under existing law for federal income tax purposes and (g) the
existing Exchangeable Certificate. Upon satisfaction of such conditions, the
Trustee will cancel the existing Exchangeable Certificate and issue such
Series and a new Exchangeable Certificate, each dated the Exchange Date.
 
PRIOR ISSUANCE OF CERTIFICATES OUTSTANDING
 
  The table below sets forth the principal characteristics of the Series B and
Series C Certificates, the other Series heretofore issued by the Trust and
currently outstanding. For more specific information with respect to any
Series, any prospective investor should contact JCPenney. JCPenney will
provide, without charge, to any prospective purchaser of the Certificates, a
copy of the disclosure document for any outstanding previous publicly-issued
Series. Requests should be addressed to Treasurer, J. C. Penney Company, Inc.,
P. O. Box 10001, Dallas, Texas 75301.
 
                                      36
<PAGE>
 
SERIES B
 
<TABLE>
 <C>                                            <S>                         <C>
 Initial Investor Amount....................... $350,000,000
 Certificate Rate.............................. 8.95%
 Investor Amount............................... $350,000,000
 Investor Percentage of Principal Receivables.. Investor Amount as of the
                                                end of the prior month
                                                divided by the aggregate
                                                Principal Receivables as
                                                of such time
 Monthly Servicing Fee......................... 0.75%
 Letter of Credit Bank......................... Credit Suisse, a Swiss
                                                banking corporation
                                                acting through its New
                                                York branch
 Remaining Letter of Credit Amount............. $42,000,000
 Minimum JCPR Percentage....................... 10%
 Repurchase Terms.............................. Optional repurchase of
                                                the Series B Certificates
                                                by JCPR on any
                                                Distribution Date on or
                                                after the Investor Amount
                                                is reduced to an amount
                                                less than or equal to
                                                $35,000,000.
                                                Mandatory repurchase of
                                                the Series B Certificates
                                                by JCPR on any
                                                Distribution Date on or
                                                after the Investor Amount
                                                is reduced to an amount
                                                less than or equal to
                                                $21,000,000, plus the
                                                amount, if any, then
                                                available (but not more
                                                than $14,000,000) under
                                                the Letter of Credit
 Commencement of Amortization Period........... May 1, 1999
SERIES C
 Initial Investor Amount....................... $375,000,000
 Certificate Rate.............................. 9.625%
 Investor Amount............................... $375,000,000
 Investor Percentage of Principal Receivables.. Investor Amount as of the
                                                end of the prior month
                                                divided by the aggregate
                                                Principal Receivables as
                                                of such time
 Monthly Servicing Fee......................... 0.75%
 Letter of Credit Bank......................... Credit Suisse, a Swiss
                                                banking corporation
                                                acting through its New
                                                York branch
 Interest Exchange Contract Provider........... Credit Suisse, a Swiss
                                                banking corporation
                                                acting through its New
                                                York branch
 Remaining Letter of Credit Amount............. $     as of     , 1998
 Minimum JCPR Percentage....................... 10%
 Reacquisition of Receivables.................. Mandatory reacquisition
                                                of Receivables allocable
                                                to the Investor Amount by
                                                JCPR in an amount equal
                                                to the excess, if any, of
                                                the Investor Amount over
                                                the amount available
                                                under the Letter of
                                                Credit on any Funding
                                                Date following the month
                                                during which the Investor
                                                Amount is reduced to an
                                                amount less than or equal
                                                to $37,500,000 and the
                                                amount available under
                                                the Letter of Credit is
                                                less than $18,750,000,
                                                but only to the extent of
                                                the available amount of
                                                the Repurchase Letter of
                                                Credit; in addition, if
                                                the Investor Amount is
                                                reduced to an amount less
                                                than $37,500,000 on the
                                                Scheduled Distribution
                                                Date, mandatory
                                                reacquisition of any
                                                remaining Receivables
                                                allocable to the Investor
                                                Amount by JCPR on the
                                                Scheduled Distribution
                                                Date
 Commencement of Accumulation Period........... December 31, 1997
 Scheduled Distribution Date................... June 15, 2000
</TABLE>
 
 
                                       37
<PAGE>
 
TRANSFER OF RECEIVABLES
 
  JCPR has transferred to the Trust all its right, title and interest in and
to all the Receivables in the Accounts and in and to all Receivables
thereafter created in such Accounts. See "Description of the Receivables
Purchase Agreement." On the Closing Date, JCPenney, as Servicer, will deliver
to the Trustee a certificate setting forth JCPenney's best estimate of the
aggregate amounts of the Principal Receivables and Finance Charge Receivables
as of the close of business on the day preceding the Closing Date.
 
  In connection with the transfer of the Receivables to the Trust, JCPR has
indicated, or will indicate, in its computer files, and has caused or will
cause, as the case may be, JCPenney to indicate in its computer files as
provided in the Receivables Purchase Agreement, that the Receivables have been
sold or transferred to JCPR by JCPenney and transferred by JCPR to the Trust.
In addition, JCPR has provided or will provide to the Trustee a computer file
or a microfiche list containing a true and complete list showing each Account,
identified by account number and by total outstanding balance. JCPR has not
and will not deliver to the Trustee any other records or agreements relating
to the Accounts or Receivables. The records and agreements relating to the
Accounts and the Receivables maintained by JCPR or the Servicer have not been
and will not be segregated by JCPR or the Servicer from other documents and
agreements relating to other credit card accounts and receivables and will not
be stamped or marked to reflect the transfer of the Receivables to the Trust,
but the computer records of JCPR and JCPenney have been and will be marked to
evidence such transfers. Each of JCPR and JCPenney have filed or will file a
financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code ("UCC") with respect to
the Receivables meeting the requirements of state law in Texas and in the
jurisdictions in which the books and records relating to the Accounts are
maintained. See "Risk Factors--Certain Legal Aspects" and "Certain Legal
Aspects of the Receivables."
 
  Pursuant to the Pooling and Servicing Agreement, JCPR may, and under certain
circumstances and subject to certain limitations and conditions shall, require
JCPenney to designate from time to time Additional Accounts to be included as
Accounts and to sell or transfer to JCPR, pursuant to the Receivables Purchase
Agreement, all Receivables then existing and thereafter created in such
Additional Accounts. All Receivables so acquired by JCPR have been and will be
transferred by JCPR to the Trust. See "--Addition of Accounts." JCPR may also
(under certain circumstances and subject to certain limitations and
conditions) remove Accounts as described in "--Removal of Accounts."
 
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
 
  JCPR and JCPenney each represents and warrants to the Trust to the effect
that, among other things, (a) as of the Closing Date, it is duly incorporated
and in good standing and has the authority to consummate the transactions
contemplated by the Pooling and Servicing Agreement and the Receivables
Purchase Agreement and (b) as of the date of the addition of the Receivables
of Additional Accounts, each Account was an Eligible Account (as hereinafter
defined). If any of these representations and warranties proves to have been
incorrect in any material respect when made, and continues to be incorrect for
60 days after notice to JCPR and JCPenney by the Trustee or to JCPR, JCPenney
and the Trustee by Certificateholders holding Certificates representing not
less than 25% of the Investor Amount, the Trustee or Certificateholders
holding Certificates representing not less than 25% of the Investor Amount may
give notice to JCPR and JCPenney (and to the Trustee in the latter instance)
declaring that a Pay Out Event has occurred, thereby commencing the Rapid
Amortization Period. See "--Pay Out Events."
 
  JCPR also represents and warrants to the Trust relating to the Receivables
to the effect, among other things, that (a) as of the Closing Date, each of
the Receivables then existing is an Eligible Receivable (as hereinafter
defined) and (b) as of the date any new Receivable is created, such Receivable
is an Eligible Receivable and the representation and warranty set forth in
clause (b) in the immediately following paragraph is true and correct with
respect to such Receivable. In the event of a breach of any representation and
warranty set forth in this paragraph or the second paragraph under
"Description of the Receivables Purchase Agreement--Representations and
Warranties," within 60 days, or such longer period as may be agreed to by the
Trustee, of the earlier to occur of the discovery of such breach by JCPR or
receipt of written notice of such breach by JCPR, JCPR shall
 
                                      38
<PAGE>
 
accept retransfer of each Principal Receivable as to which such breach relates
(each, an "Ineligible Receivable") on the terms and conditions set forth
below; provided, however, that no such retransfer shall be required to be made
with respect to such Ineligible Receivable if, on any day within such 60-day
period (or such longer period as may be agreed to by the Trustee), the
representations and warranties with respect to such Ineligible Receivable
shall then be true and correct in all material respects or if the aggregate
amount of Ineligible Receivables outstanding at any time does not, in the sole
reasonable judgment of JCPR, have a material adverse effect on the interest of
the Trust in the Receivables as a whole, including the ability of the Servicer
in JCPR's sole reasonable judgment to collect the Receivables. JCPR shall
accept retransfer of each such Ineligible Receivable by directing the Servicer
to deduct the principal balance of each such Ineligible Receivable from the
aggregate amount of Principal Receivables used to calculate the amount of the
JCPR Amount. If the exclusion of an Ineligible Receivable from the calculation
of the JCPR Amount would cause the JCPR Amount to be a negative number, on the
date of retransfer of such Ineligible Receivable JCPR shall make a deposit in
the Collection Account in immediately available funds in an amount equal to
the amount by which the JCPR Amount would be reduced below zero. Such deposit
will be considered a repayment in full of the Ineligible Receivable. The
obligation of JCPR to accept retransfer of any Ineligible Receivable is the
sole remedy available to Certificateholders or the Trustee on behalf of
Certificateholders respecting any breach of the representations and warranties
set forth in this paragraph with respect to such Receivable.
 
  JCPR also represents and warrants to the Trust to the effect, among other
things, that as of the Closing Date (a) the Pooling and Servicing Agreement
constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of JCPR and (b) the Pooling
and Servicing Agreement and the Receivables Purchase Agreement, collectively,
constitute a valid transfer to the Trust of all right, title and interest of
JCPR and JCPenney in and to the Receivables, whether then existing or
thereafter created in the Accounts, and the proceeds thereof (including
amounts in any of the accounts established for the benefit of the
Certificateholders) or the grant of a first priority perfected security
interest in such Receivables (except for certain tax liens not then due or
which JCPenney or JCPR is contesting) and the proceeds thereof (including
amounts in any of the accounts established for the benefit of the
Certificateholders), which is effective as to each Receivable upon the
transfer thereof to the Trust or upon its creation, as the case may be. If the
breach of any of the representations and warranties described in this
paragraph or the third paragraph under "Description of the Receivables
Purchase Agreement--Representations and Warranties" materially adversely
affects the interests of the Certificateholders, either the Trustee or the
holders of certificates evidencing undivided interests in the Trust
aggregating not less than 25% of the investor amount of all Series, by written
notice to JCPR (and to the Trustee and the Servicer if given by the
certificateholders), may direct JCPR to accept retransfer of the Receivables
within 45 days of such notice, or within such longer period specified in such
notice. JCPR will be obligated to accept retransfer of such Receivables on a
Distribution Date occurring within such applicable period. Such retransfer
will not be required to be made, however, if at any time during such
applicable period the representations and warranties shall then be true and
correct in all material respects. The deposit amount for such retransfer will
be equal to the investor amount of all Series on the last day of the Monthly
Period preceding the Distribution Date on which the retransfer is scheduled to
be made plus an amount equal to all interest accrued but unpaid on the
certificates of each Series at the applicable certificate rates through such
last day of the Monthly Period, less the amount transferred to the
Distribution Account from the Finance Charge Account in respect of interest on
the certificates of each Series for the month ending on such last day of the
preceding Monthly Period. The payment of this deposit amount and the transfer
of all other amounts deposited for the preceding month in the Distribution
Account will be considered a prepayment in full of the investor amounts and
will be distributed upon presentation and surrender of the certificates. If
the Trustee or certificateholders give a notice as provided above, the
obligation of JCPR to make any such deposit will constitute the sole remedy
respecting a breach of the representations and warranties available to the
Trustee or the certificateholders.
 
  An "Eligible Account" is defined to mean each Account which is payable in
United States dollars and which is serviced in any credit service center of
JCPenney which is located in the United States. An "Eligible Receivable" is
defined to mean each Receivable (a) which has arisen under an Eligible
Account, (b) which was created in compliance, in all material respects, with
all requirements of law applicable to JCPenney or JCP Card
 
                                      39
<PAGE>
 
Bank, as applicable, and JCPR and pursuant to a credit card agreement which
complies in all material respects with all requirements of law applicable to
JCPenney or JCP Card Bank, as applicable, and JCPR, (c) with respect to which
all consents or authorizations of, or registrations with, any governmental
authority required to be obtained or given by JCPenney or JCP Card Bank, as
applicable, and JCPR in connection with the creation of such Receivable or in
connection with the execution, delivery and performance by JCPenney or JCP
Card Bank, as applicable, and JCPR of the related 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, (d) as to which, at the time of its creation,
JCPenney or JCP Card Bank, as applicable, JCPR or the Trust had good and
marketable title free and clear of all liens and security interests arising
under or through JCPenney, JCP Card Bank or JCPR (other than certain tax liens
for taxes not then due or which JCPenney or JCPR is contesting), (e) which is
the legal, valid and binding payment obligation of the related cardholder,
legally enforceable against such cardholder in accordance with its terms (with
certain bankruptcy-related exceptions) and (f) which constitutes an "account"
under Article 9 of the UCC as then in effect in Texas and any other state in
which the Servicer's books and records relating to the Account are located.
 
  It is not required or anticipated that the Trustee make or will make any
initial or periodic general examination of the Receivables or any records
relating to the Receivables for the purpose of establishing the presence or
absence of defects, compliance with JCPR's representations and warranties or
for any other purpose. The Servicer, however, will deliver to the Trustee on
or before April 15 of each year, and has so delivered for each year since
1989, an opinion of counsel with respect to the validity of the security
interest of the Trust in and to the Receivables and certain other components
of the Trust.
 
ADDITION OF ACCOUNTS
 
  Subject to the conditions specified below, JCPR may designate from time to
time additional qualifying JCPenney credit card accounts (which may be from
any billing cycles) ("Additional Accounts") to be included as Accounts and to
transfer to the Trust all Receivables of such Additional Accounts, whether
such Receivables are then existing or thereafter created. In addition, if,
during any period of 30 consecutive days during the Revolving Period, the JCPR
Amount averaged over that period is less than 10% of the average Principal
Receivables, JCPR will, under the Receivables Purchase Agreement, cause
JCPenney to transfer the Receivables of additional qualifying JCPenney credit
card accounts to be included as Accounts, and JCPR will purchase Receivables
in such Additional Accounts (which may be in any of JCPenney's billing cycles)
under the Receivables Purchase Agreement and transfer such Receivables to the
Trust in a sufficient amount so that the average of the JCPR Amount as a
percent of the average Principal Receivables during such 30-day period would
have, if the Receivables from such Accounts had been transferred to the Trust
as of the first day of such 30-day period, at least equalled 10%. JCPR may
reduce or increase the 10% figure set forth above in any future Supplement,
provided such figure will not be reduced below 5% as long as the Certificates
are outstanding.
 
  Except as provided in the following paragraph, JCPR may designate Additional
Accounts only upon satisfaction of the following conditions: (i) JCPR shall
give the Trustee and the Servicer five business days notice of the proposed
addition, (ii) each Additional Account shall be an Eligible Account, (iii) if
any such Additional Account is being added (except as described in the
preceding paragraph) and such addition would cause the Principal Receivables
to exceed $50,000,000 more than the greater of (x) the amount of Principal
Receivables in the Trust on the Closing Date or (y) the amount of Principal
Receivables in the Trust when the provisions of this clause (iii) were last
complied with, such addition shall be accompanied by a letter from each Rating
Agency to the effect that such addition would not adversely affect the rating
of the Certificates, (iv) JCPR shall give the Trustee an executed transfer
agreement together with a list of such Additional Accounts, (v) JCPR shall
represent and warrant that no selection procedures believed by JCPR to be
materially adverse to the interests of the Certificateholders were used in
selecting or adding such Additional Accounts, (vi) JCPR shall represent and
warrant that the transfer of such Additional Accounts constitutes a valid
transfer to the Trust of all right, title and interest of JCPR in and to the
Receivables in such Additional Accounts, whether then existing or thereafter
created, and the proceeds thereof (including amounts in any of the accounts
established for the benefit of the Certificateholders) or the grant of a first
priority perfected security interest in such Receivables (except for certain
 
                                      40
<PAGE>
 
tax liens not then due or which JCPenney or JCPR is contesting) and the
proceeds thereof (including amounts in any of the accounts established for the
benefit of the Certificateholders), which is effective as to each Receivable
upon the transfer thereof to the Trust or upon its creation, as the case may
be, (vii) JCPR shall deliver an officer's certificate confirming the items
specified in clauses (ii) (iv), (v) and (vi) above, (viii) JCPR shall deliver
an opinion of counsel in respect of such addition in the form specified in the
Pooling and Servicing Agreement and (ix) JCPR shall notify each Rating Agency
of such proposed addition of Additional Accounts.
 
  Additional Accounts opened in Cycles One, Two, Three or Four (or any other
billing cycle of which substantially all the Receivables have been transferred
to the Trust in the future) during the normal operation of JCPenney's credit
card business may also be added to the Trust automatically on a daily basis.
In connection with any such automatic addition of Additional Accounts, JCPR
will be required to satisfy the condition specified in clause (iv) in the
preceding paragraph within five days after the first day of the calendar month
next succeeding the calendar month in which such Additional Accounts were
added to the Accounts and the conditions specified in clauses (v) and (vi) in
the preceding paragraph as of the date any such Additional Account is added to
the Accounts.
 
REMOVAL OF ACCOUNTS
 
  Subject to the conditions specified below, JCPR may, but is not obligated
to, remove from the Trust all Receivables from the Removed Accounts; provided,
however, that JCPR shall not make more than one such designation in any
Monthly Period. JCPR shall be permitted to designate and require retransfer to
it of the Receivables from Removed Accounts only upon satisfaction of the
following conditions: (i) the Principal Receivables of the Removed Accounts
shall equal or exceed 2% of the aggregate amount of the Principal Receivables
in the Trust at such time and each Rating Agency shall have delivered to the
Trustee a letter confirming that such removal will not adversely affect the
rating of the Certificates; (ii) the removal of any Receivables of any Removed
Accounts shall not, in the reasonable belief of JCPR, cause a pay out event or
similar event with respect to any outstanding Series, or an event which, with
notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute such an event, with respect
to any such Series; (iii) JCPR shall have delivered to the Trustee for
execution a written retransfer agreement and a computer file, microfiche or
written list containing a true and complete list of all Removed Accounts
identified by account number and the aggregate amount of the Principal
Receivables in such Removed Accounts; (iv) JCPR shall represent and warrant
that no selection procedures believed by JCPR to be materially adverse to the
interests of the Certificateholders were used in selecting the Removed
Accounts to be removed from the Trust; and (v) JCPR shall have delivered to
the Trustee an officer's certificate confirming the items set forth in clauses
(i) through (iv) above. JCPR will also have the right to remove all
Receivables in specified Accounts, without complying with the conditions
specified in clauses (i), (ii), (iv) and (v) above, in the limited
circumstances described in "--Defaulted Receivables and Rebates."
 
COLLECTION AND OTHER SERVICING PROCEDURES
 
  Pursuant to the Pooling and Servicing Agreement, the Servicer is responsible
for servicing and administering the Receivables in accordance with the
Servicer's policies and procedures in effect for servicing credit card
receivables comparable to the Receivables, as such policies and procedures may
be modified from time to time by the Servicer. The Servicer is not required to
maintain fidelity bond coverage insuring against losses through wrongdoing of
its officers and employees who are involved in the servicing of credit card
receivables.
 
TRUST ACCOUNTS
 
  The Trustee has established in the name of the Trust three segregated trust
accounts for the benefit of the Certificateholders and certificateholders of
other Series, a "Finance Charge Account," a "Principal Account" and a
"Distribution Account," for each Series, each established with a "Qualified
Institution" (defined generally as a depository institution or trust company,
which may include the Trustee, organized under the laws of the United States
or any one of the states thereof, which at all times has a certificate of
deposit rating of P-1 by
 
                                      41
<PAGE>
 
Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's") and of A-1 by Standard & Poor's
Corporation ("Standard & Poor's") and which is a member of the FDIC). Amounts
in such accounts are allocated among the various Series outstanding, and all
payments to certificateholders of a particular Series, and payments of other
amounts allocable to such Series, are paid solely out of the amounts on
deposit in such Accounts which have been allocated to that Series. The
Servicer has established and maintains, or has caused to be established and
maintained, in the name of the Trust, for the benefit of certificateholders of
all Series, a "Collection Account" (a non-interest bearing segregated account
established with a Qualified Institution). Funds in the Principal Account and
the Finance Charge Account are invested, at the direction of the Servicer, in
(i) obligations fully guaranteed by the United States of America, (ii) time
deposits in or bankers' acceptances issued by deposit or depository
institutions or trust companies, the certificates of deposit of which have the
highest rating from each of Moody's and Standard & Poor's or the long-term
unsecured debt obligations of which have one of the two highest ratings from
Moody's and Standard & Poor's, (iii) certificates of deposit having, at the
time of the Trust's investment, a rating in the highest rating category from
Moody's and Standard & Poor's, (iv) demand deposits in any depository
institution or trust company described in clause (ii) above, (v) money market
funds which have the highest rating from, or have otherwise been approved in
writing by, Moody's and Standard & Poor's, (vi) commercial paper which has the
highest rating from Moody's and Standard & Poor's and (vii) certain open end
diversified investment companies. Any earnings (net of losses and investment
expenses) on funds in the Finance Charge Account or the Principal Account are
paid to JCPR. The Servicer has the revocable power to withdraw funds from the
Collection Account and to instruct the Trustee to make withdrawals and
payments from the Finance Charge Account and the Principal Account for the
purpose of carrying out the Servicer's duties under the Pooling and Servicing
Agreement. The Paying Agent has the revocable power to withdraw funds from the
Distribution Account for the purpose of making distributions to the
Certificateholders. The Paying Agent shall initially be             .
 
SUBORDINATION
 
  The Class B Certificates and the Class C Investor Interest will be
subordinated to the extent necessary to fund certain payments with respect to
the Class A Certificates. In addition, the Class C Investor Interest will be
subordinated to the extent necessary to fund certain payments with respect to
the Class B Certificates. Certain principal payments otherwise allocable to
the Class B Certificateholders may be reallocated to cover amounts in respect
of the Class A Certificates and the Class B Investor Interest may be reduced
if the Class C Investor Interest is equal to zero. Similarly, certain
principal payments allocable to the Class C Investor Interest may be
reallocated to cover amounts in respect of the Class A Certificates and the
Class B Certificates and the Class C Investor Interest may be reduced. To the
extent the Class B Investor Interest is reduced, the percentage of collections
of Finance Charge Receivables allocated to the Class B Certificates in
subsequent Monthly Periods will be reduced. Moreover, to the extent the amount
of such reduction in the Class B Investor Interest is not reimbursed, the
amount of principal distributable to, and the amounts available to be
distributed with respect to interest on, the Class B Certificateholders will
be reduced. See "--Investor Percentage and JCPR Percentage," "--Reallocation
of Cash Flows" and "--Application of Collections--Excess Spread."
 
INVESTOR PERCENTAGE AND JCPR PERCENTAGE
 
  Pursuant to the Pooling and Servicing Agreement, with respect to each
Monthly Period the Servicer will allocate among the Investor Interest, the
investor interest for all other Series issued and outstanding and the JCPR
Amount, all amounts collected on Finance Charge Receivables, all amounts
collected on Principal Receivables and all Default Amounts with respect to
such Monthly Period. Each "Monthly Period" will be the period from and
including the first day of a calendar month to and including the last day of
such calendar month (other than the initial Monthly Period, which will
commence on and include the Closing Date and end on and include    , 1998).
 
  Collections of Finance Charge Receivables and Default Amounts at any time
(except as described in the following sentence) and collections of Principal
Receivables during the Revolving Period will be allocated to the Investor
Interest based on the Floating Investor Percentage. The "Floating Investor
Percentage" means, with
 
                                      42
<PAGE>
 
respect to any Monthly Period, the percentage equivalent of a fraction, the
numerator of which is the Investor Interest as of the close of business on the
last day of the preceding Monthly Period (or with respect to the first Monthly
Period, the initial Investor Interest), except that such numerator as applied
to Finance Charge Receivables during the Rapid Amortization Period shall be
the Investor Interest as of the close of business on the last day preceding
the commencement of the Rapid Amortization Period, and the denominator of
which is the greater of (x) the aggregate amount of Principal Receivables as
of the close of business on the last day of the preceding Monthly Period (or
with respect to the first calendar month in the first Monthly Period, the
aggregate amount of Principal Receivables as of the close of business on the
day immediately preceding the Closing Date and with respect to the second
calendar month in the first Monthly Period, the aggregate amount of Principal
Receivables as of the close of business on the last day of the first calendar
month in the first Monthly Period) and (y) the sum of the numerators used to
calculate the Investor Percentages for allocations with respect to Finance
Charge Receivables, Default Amounts or Principal Receivables, as applicable,
for all outstanding Series on such date of determination. Such amounts so
allocated will be further allocated between the Class A Certificateholders,
Class B Certificateholders and the Class C Interest Holder based on the Class
A Floating Allocation, the Class B Floating Allocation and the Class C
Floating Allocation, respectively. The "Class A Floating Allocation" means,
with respect to any Monthly Period, the percentage equivalent (which
percentage shall never exceed 100%) of a fraction, the numerator of which is
equal to the Class A Investor Interest as of the close of business on the last
day of the preceding Monthly Period (or with respect to the first Monthly
Period, as of the Closing Date) and the denominator of which is equal to the
Investor Interest as of the close of business on such day. The "Class B
Floating Allocation" means, with respect to any Monthly Period, the percentage
equivalent (which percentage shall never exceed 100%) of a fraction, the
numerator of which is equal to the Class B Investor Interest as of the close
of business on the last day of the preceding Monthly Period (or with respect
to the first Monthly Period, as of the Closing Date) and the denominator of
which is equal to the Investor Interest as of the close of business on such
day. The "Class C Floating Allocation" means, with respect to any Monthly
Period, the percentage equivalent (which percentage shall never exceed 100%)
of a fraction, the numerator of which is equal to the Class C Investor
Interest as of the close of business on the last day of the preceding Monthly
Period (or with respect to the first Monthly Period, as of the Closing Date)
and the denominator of which is equal to the Investor Interest as of the close
of business on such day.
 
  Collections of Principal Receivables during the Controlled Amortization
Period or the Rapid Amortization Period, as the case may be, will be allocated
to the Investor Interest based on the Fixed Investor Percentage. The "Fixed
Investor Percentage" means, with respect to any Monthly Period, the percentage
equivalent of a fraction, the numerator of which is the Investor Interest as
of the close of business on the last day of the Revolving Period and the
denominator of which is the greater of (x) the aggregate amount of Principal
Receivables as of the close of business on the last day of the prior Monthly
Period and (y) the sum of the numerators used to calculate the Investor
Percentages for allocations with respect to Principal Receivables for all
outstanding Series for such Monthly Period. Such amounts so allocated will be
further allocated between the Class A Certificateholders, the Class B
Certificateholders and the Class C Interest Holder based on the Class A Fixed
Allocation, the Class B Fixed Allocation and the Class C Fixed Allocation,
respectively. The "Class A Fixed Allocation" means, with respect to any
Monthly Period, the percentage equivalent (which percentage shall never exceed
100%) of a fraction, the numerator of which is equal to the Class A Investor
Interest as of the close of business on the last day of the Revolving Period,
and the denominator of which is equal to the Investor Interest as of the close
of business on the last day of the Revolving Period. The "Class B Fixed
Allocation" means, with respect to any Monthly Period, the percentage
equivalent (which percentage shall never exceed 100%) of a fraction, the
numerator of which is equal to the Class B Investor Interest as of the close
of business on the last day of the Revolving Period, and the denominator of
which is equal to the Investor Interest as of the close of business on the
last day of the Revolving Period. The "Class C Fixed Allocation" means, with
respect to any Monthly Period, the percentage equivalent (which percentage
shall never exceed 100%) of a fraction, the numerator of which is equal to the
Class C Investor Interest as of the close of business on the last day of the
Revolving Period, and the denominator of which is equal to the Investor
Interest as of the close of business on the last day of the Revolving Period.
 
                                      43
<PAGE>
 
  "Class A Investor Interest" for any date means an amount equal to (a) the
aggregate initial principal amount of the Class A Certificates, minus (b) the
aggregate amount of principal payments made to Class A Certificateholders
prior to such date, minus (c) the excess, if any, of the aggregate amount of
Class A Investor Charge-Offs for all Transfer Dates preceding such date over
the aggregate amount of any reimbursements of Class A Investor Charge-Offs for
all Transfer Dates preceding such date; provided, however, that the Class A
Investor Interest may not be reduced below zero.
 
  "Class B Investor Interest" for any date means an amount equal to (a) the
aggregate initial principal amount of the Class B Certificates, minus (b) the
aggregate amount of principal payments made to Class B Certificateholders
prior to such date, minus (c) the aggregate amount of Class B Investor Charge-
Offs for all prior Transfer Dates, minus (d) the aggregate amount of
Reallocated Class B Principal Collections for all prior Transfer Dates for
which the Class C Investor Interest has not been reduced, minus (e) an amount
equal to the aggregate amount by which the Class B Investor Interest has been
reduced to fund the Class A Investor Default Amount on all prior Transfer
Dates as described under "--Defaulted Receivables; Rebates", and plus (f) the
aggregate amount of Excess Spread allocated and available on all prior
Transfer Dates for the purpose of reimbursing amounts deducted pursuant to the
foregoing clauses (c), (d) and (e); provided, however, that the Class B
Investor Interest may not be reduced below zero.
 
  "Class C Investor Interest" for any date means an amount equal to (a) the
Initial Class C Investor Interest, minus (b) the aggregate amount of principal
payments made to the Class C Interest Holder prior to such date, minus (c) the
aggregate amount of Class C Charge-Offs for all prior Transfer Dates, minus
(d) the aggregate amount of Reallocated Principal Collections for all prior
Transfer Dates, minus (e) an amount equal to the aggregate amount by which the
Class C Investor Interest has been reduced to fund the Class A Investor
Default Amount and the Class B Investor Default Amount on all prior Transfer
Dates as described under "--Defaulted Receivables; Rebates," and plus (f) the
aggregate amount of Excess Spread allocated and available on all prior
Transfer Dates for the purpose of reimbursing amounts deducted pursuant to the
foregoing clauses (c), (d) and (e); provided, however, that the Class C
Investor Interest may not be reduced below zero.
 
  The Floating Investor Percentage and the Fixed Investor Percentage are each
sometimes referred to herein as an "Investor Percentage."
 
  The Pooling and Servicing Agreement provides that the Servicer will allocate
collections between Finance Charge Receivables and Principal Receivables using
a formula based on the aggregate amount of finance charges assessed on the
Accounts, net of any write-downs of finance charges in Defaulted Accounts,
during each monthly billing cycle. For each processing day in any monthly
billing cycle, collections in respect of the Receivables for Accounts in such
billing cycle are allocated first to Finance Charge Receivables, until the
cumulative amount thereof equals a pro rata portion of the Finance Charge
Receivables scheduled to be received during such billing cycle (calculated as
if an equal amount of Finance Charge Receivables were received on each such
processing day), and then to Principal Receivables. The Servicer may, however,
adopt another method to effect such allocation which the Servicer in good
faith believes more accurately reflects the actual amount of Finance Charge
Receivables and Principal Receivables collected. Any such estimates are
binding for all purposes on the Certificateholders, the Trustee and JCPR.
 
  The JCPR Percentage with respect to any Monthly Period equals 100% minus the
sum of the applicable Investor Percentage for such Monthly Period and the
applicable investor percentages calculated for each Series outstanding.
 
DISCOUNT OPTION
 
  JCPR may at any time designate a specified fixed or variable percentage (the
"Discount Percentage"), which may not exceed 3% unless the Rating Agency
Condition is satisfied, of the amount of Receivables arising in the Accounts
that otherwise would have been treated as Principal Receivables to be treated
as Finance Charge Receivables. Such designation may be applicable to one or
more Series. Such designation will become effective
 
                                      44
<PAGE>
 
upon satisfaction of the requirements set forth in the Pooling and Servicing
Agreement, including that such designation shall not, in the reasonable belief
of JCPR, cause a Pay Out Event to occur. On the date of processing of any
collections, the product of the Discount Percentage and collections of
Receivables that arise in the Accounts on such day on or after the date such
option is exercised that otherwise would be Principal Receivables will be
deemed collections of Finance Charge Receivables and will be applied
accordingly.
 
SHARED COLLECTIONS OF FINANCE CHARGE RECEIVABLES
 
  To the extent that collections of Finance Charge Receivables allocated to a
Series are not needed to make payments to certificateholders of such Series or
other payments required in respect of such Series, such collections ("Excess
Finance Charge Collections") may be applied to cover shortfalls in amounts
payable from collections of Finance Charge Receivables allocable to one or
more other Series. Series E will be entitled to its pro rata share of any such
Excess Finance Charge Collections. There can be no assurance, however, that
such Excess Finance Charge Collections will be available to cover such
shortfalls.
 
REALLOCATION OF CASH FLOWS
 
  With respect to each Transfer Date, the Servicer will determine the amount
(the "Class A Required Amount"), which will be equal to the amount, if any, by
which the sum of (a) Class A Monthly Interest due on the related Distribution
Date and overdue Class A Monthly Interest and Class A Additional Interest, if
any, (b) the Class A Servicing Fee for the related Monthly Period and overdue
Class A Servicing Fee, if any, and (c) the Class A Investor Default Amount, if
any, for the related Monthly Period exceeds the Class A Available Funds for
the related Monthly Period. If the Class A Required Amount is greater than
zero, Excess Spread allocated to Series E and available for such purpose will
be used to fund the Class A Required Amount with respect to such Transfer
Date. If such Excess Spread is insufficient to fund the Class A Required
Amount, first, Reallocated Class C Principal Collections and, then,
Reallocated Class B Principal Collections will be used to fund the remaining
Class A Required Amount. If Reallocated Principal Collections with respect to
the related Monthly Period, together with Excess Spread, are insufficient to
fund the remaining Class A Required Amount for such related Monthly Period,
then the Class C Investor Interest (after giving effect to reductions for any
Class C Charge-Offs and Reallocated Principal Collections on such Transfer
Date) will be reduced by the amount of such excess (but not by more than the
Class A Investor Default Amount for such Monthly Period). In the event that
such reduction would cause the Class C Investor Interest to be a negative
number, the Class C Investor Interest will be reduced to zero, and the Class B
Investor Interest (after giving effect to reductions for any Class B Investor
Charge-Offs and any Reallocated Class B Principal Collections for which the
Class C Investor Interest was not reduced on such Transfer Date) will be
reduced by the amount by which the Class C Investor Interest would have been
reduced below zero (but not by more than the excess of the Class A Investor
Default Amount, if any, for such Monthly Period over the amount of such
reduction, if any, of the Class C Investor Interest with respect to such
Monthly Period). In the event that such reduction would cause the Class B
Investor Interest to be a negative number, the Class B Investor Interest will
be reduced to zero and the Class A Investor Interest will be reduced by the
amount by which the Class B Investor Interest would have been reduced below
zero (but not by more than the excess, if any, of the Class A Investor Default
Amount for such Monthly Period over the amount of the reductions, if any, of
the Class C Investor Interest and the Class B Investor Interest with respect
to such Monthly Period). Any such reduction in the Class A Investor Interest
will have the effect of slowing or reducing the return of principal and
interest to the Class A Certificateholders. In such case, the Class A
Certificateholders will bear directly the credit and other risks associated
with their interests in the Trust. See "--Defaulted Receivables; Rebates."
 
  With respect to each Transfer Date, the Servicer will determine the amount
(the "Class B Required Amount"), which will be equal to the sum of (a) the
amount, if any, by which the sum of (i) Class B Monthly Interest due on the
related Distribution Date and overdue Class B Monthly Interest and Class B
Additional Interest, if any, and (ii) the Class B Servicing Fee for the
related Monthly Period and overdue Class B Servicing Fee, if any, exceeds the
Class B Available Funds for the related Monthly Period and (b) the Class B
Investor Default Amount, if any, for the related Monthly Period. If the Class
B Required Amount is greater than zero,
 
                                      45
<PAGE>
 
Excess Spread allocated to Series E not required to pay the Class A Required
Amount or reimburse Class A Investor Charge-Offs will be used to fund the
Class B Required Amount with respect to such Transfer Date. If such Excess
Spread is insufficient to fund the Class B Required Amount, Reallocated Class
C Principal Collections not required to fund the Class A Required Amount for
the related Monthly Period will be used to fund the remaining Class B Required
Amount. If such Reallocated Class C Principal Collections with respect to the
related Monthly Period are insufficient to fund the remaining Class B Required
Amount, then the Class C Investor Interest (after giving effect to reductions
for any Class C Charge-Offs and Reallocated Principal Collections on such
Transfer Date and after any adjustments made thereto for the benefit of the
Class A Certificateholders) will be reduced by the amount of such deficiency
(but not by more than the Class B Investor Default Amount for such Monthly
Period). In the event that such a reduction would cause the Class C Investor
Interest to be a negative number, the Class C Investor Interest will be
reduced to zero, and the Class B Investor Interest will be reduced by the
amount by which the Class C Investor Interest would have been reduced below
zero (but not by more than the excess of the Class B Investor Default Amount
for such Monthly Period over the amount of such reduction of the Class C
Investor Interest), and the Class B Certificateholders will bear directly the
credit and other risks associated with their interests in the Trust. See "--
Defaulted Receivables; Rebates."
 
  Reductions of the Class A Investor Interest or the Class B Investor Interest
described above shall be reimbursed by, and the Class A Investor Interest or
the Class B Investor Interest increased to the extent of, Excess Spread
available for such purposes on each Transfer Date. See "--Application of
Collections--Excess Spread." When such reductions of the Class A Investor
Interest and the Class B Investor Interest have been fully reimbursed,
reductions of the Class C Investor Interest shall be reimbursed until
reimbursed in full in a similar manner.
 
  "Required Amount" for any Monthly Period means the sum of (a) the Class A
Required Amount and (b) the Class B Required Amount, each for such Monthly
Period.
 
  "Reallocated Class B Principal Collections" for any Monthly Period means
collections of Principal Receivables allocable to the Class B Investor
Interest for such Monthly Period in an amount not to exceed the amount applied
to fund the Class A Required Amount, if any; provided, however, that such
amount will not exceed the Class B Investor Interest after giving effect to
any Class B Investor Charge-Offs for the related Transfer Date.
 
  "Reallocated Class C Principal Collections" for any Monthly Period means
collections of Principal Receivables allocable to the Class C Investor
Interest for such Monthly Period in an amount not to exceed the amount applied
to fund the Class A Required Amount and the Class B Required Amount, if any;
provided, however, that such amount will not exceed the Collateral Interest
after giving effect to any Class C Charge-Offs for the related Transfer Date.
 
  "Reallocated Principal Collections" for any Monthly Period means the sum of
(a) the Reallocated Class B Principal Collections for such Monthly Period, if
any, and (b) the Reallocated Class C Principal Collections for such Monthly
Period, if any.
 
APPLICATIONS OF COLLECTIONS
 
  Allocations. The Servicer will deposit into the Collection Account, no later
than the second business day following the date of processing, any payment
collected by the Servicer on the Receivables; provided, however, that the
Servicer will generally be permitted to retain all such collections for its
own use until the business day preceding each Transfer Date so long as (i)
JCPenney is the Servicer, (ii) the short-term unsecured debt obligations of
JCPenney are rated at least A-1 by Standard & Poor's and P-1 by Moody's and
(iii) no Servicer Default (as hereinafter defined) exists. The Servicer will
then withdraw the following amounts from the Collection Account on the day any
such deposit is made for application as indicated:
 
    (a) an amount equal to the applicable Investor Percentage of the
  aggregate amount of such deposits in respect of Finance Charge Receivables
  will be deposited into the Finance Charge Account for the account of the
  Certificates;
 
                                      46
<PAGE>
 
    (b) during the Revolving Period, an amount equal to the applicable
  Investor Percentage of the aggregate amount of such deposits in respect of
  Principal Receivables will be paid to JCPR (or, in certain limited
  circumstances to the Class C Interest Holder); and
 
    (c) during the Controlled Amortization Period or the Rapid Amortization
  Period, as the case may be, an amount equal to the applicable Investor
  Percentage of the aggregate amount of such deposits in respect of Principal
  Receivables will be deposited into the Principal Account.
 
  After the end of each Monthly Period in which there are Net Recoveries
allocable to the Investor Amount, the amount thereof will be deposited by JCPR
in the Finance Charge Account during the Revolving Period or transferred from
the Principal Account to the Finance Charge Account during the Controlled
Amortization Period or the Rapid Amortization Period, as the case may be. Any
amounts not paid or deposited as provided above will be paid to the holder of
the Exchangeable Certificate or the holders of certificates of other Series.
No payment will be made to JCPR pursuant to clause (b) above or to the holder
of the Exchangeable Certificate if such payment would reduce the JCPR Amount
below zero. As long as the JCPR Amount is zero, amounts which would be paid to
the holder of the Exchangeable Certificate will be reallocated among the
outstanding Series, and amounts which would be paid to the holder of the
Exchangeable Certificate will be retained until the JCPR Amount is positive or
a Pay Out Event occurs.
 
  Payment of Interest, Fees and Other Items. On each Transfer Date, the
Trustee, acting pursuant to the Servicer's instructions, will apply the Class
A Available Funds, Class B Available Funds and Class C Available Funds in the
Finance Charge Account in the following priority:
 
    (a) On each Transfer Date, an amount equal to the Class A Available Funds
  will be distributed in the following priority:
 
      (i) an amount equal to Class A Monthly Interest for the related
    Distribution Date, plus the amount of any overdue Class A Monthly
    Interest and Class A Additional Interest thereon, if any, will be
    deposited into the Distribution Account for distribution to Class A
    Certificateholders on such Distribution Date;
 
      (ii) an amount equal to the Class A Servicing Fee for the related
    Monthly Period, plus the amount of any overdue Class A Servicing Fee,
    will be paid to the Servicer;
 
      (iii) an amount equal to the Class A Investor Default Amount, if any,
    for the related Monthly Period will be treated as a portion of
    Available Investor Principal Collections and deposited into the
    Principal Account for such Transfer Date; and
 
      (iv) the balance, if any, will constitute a portion of Excess Spread
    and will be allocated and distributed as described under "--Excess
    Spread."
 
    (b) On each Transfer Date, an amount equal to the Class B Available Funds
  will be distributed in the following priority:
 
      (i) an amount equal to Class B Monthly Interest for the related
    Distribution Date, plus the amount of any overdue Class B Monthly
    Interest and Class B Additional Interest thereon, if any, will be
    deposited into the Distribution Account for distribution to Class B
    Certificateholders on such Distribution Date;
 
      (ii) an amount equal to the Class B Servicing Fee for the related
    Monthly Period, plus the amount of any overdue Class B Servicing Fee,
    will be paid to the Servicer; and
 
      (iii) the balance, if any, will constitute a portion of Excess Spread
    and will be allocated and distributed as described under "--Excess
    Spread."
 
    (c) On each Transfer Date, an amount equal to the Class C Available Funds
  will be distributed in the following priority:
 
      (i) if JCPenney or an affiliate thereof is no longer the Servicer, an
    amount equal to the Class C Servicing Fee, plus the amount of any
    overdue Class C Servicing Fee, for the related Monthly Period will be
    paid to the Servicer; and
 
                                      47
<PAGE>
 
      (ii) the balance, if any, will constitute a portion of Excess Spread
    and will be allocated and distributed as described under "--Excess
    Spread."
 
  "Class A Monthly Interest" with respect to any Distribution Date will equal
one-twelfth of the product of (a) the Class A Certificate Rate and (b) the
outstanding principal balance of the Class A Certificates as of the related
Record Date; provided, however, with respect to the first Distribution Date,
Class A Monthly Interest will be equal to the interest accrued on the initial
outstanding principal balance of the Class A Certificates at the Class A
Certificate Rate for the period from and including the Closing Date through
but excluding    , 1998.
 
  "Class B Monthly Interest" with respect to any Distribution Date will equal
one twelfth of the product of (a) the Class B Certificate Rate and (b) the
outstanding principal balance of the Class B Certificates as of the related
Record Date; provided, however, with respect to the first Distribution Date,
Class B Monthly Interest will be equal to the interest accrued on the initial
outstanding principal balance of the Class B Certificates at the Class B
Certificate Rate for the period from and including the Closing Date through
but excluding    , 1998.
 
  "Class C Available Funds" means, with respect to any Monthly Period, an
amount equal to the Class C Floating Allocation of collections of Finance
Charge Receivables and Net Recoveries allocated to the Investor Interest with
respect to such Monthly Period.
 
  "Excess Spread" means, with respect to any Transfer Date, an amount equal to
the sum of the amounts described in clause (a)(iv), clause (b)(ii) and clause
(c)(ii) above.
 
  Excess Spread. On each Transfer Date, the Trustee, acting pursuant to the
Servicer's instructions, will apply Excess Spread with respect to the related
Monthly Period, to make the following distributions in the following priority:
 
    (a) an amount equal to the Class A Required Amount, if any, with respect
  to such Transfer Date will be used to fund the Class A Required Amount;
  provided, however, that in the event the Class A Required Amount for such
  Transfer Date exceeds the amount of Excess Spread, such Excess Spread shall
  be applied first to pay amounts due with respect to such Transfer Date
  pursuant to clause (a)(i) above under "--Payment of Interest, Fees and
  Other Items," second to pay amounts due with respect to such Transfer Date
  pursuant to clause (a)(ii) above under "--Payment of Interest, Fees and
  Other Items" and third to pay amounts due with respect to such Transfer
  Date pursuant to clause (a)(iii) above under "--Payment of Interest, Fees
  and Other Items";
 
    (b) an amount equal to the aggregate amount of Class A Investor Charge-
  Offs which have not been previously reimbursed will be deposited into the
  Principal Account and treated as a portion of Available Investor Principal
  Collections for such Transfer Date as described under "--Payments of
  Principal" below;
 
    (c) an amount equal to the Class B Required Amount, if any, with respect
  to such Transfer Date will be used to fund the Class B Required Amount and
  will be applied first to pay amounts due with respect to such Transfer Date
  pursuant to clause (b)(i) above under "--Payment of Interest, Fees and
  Other Items," second to payment of amounts due with respect to such
  Transfer Date pursuant to clause (b) (ii) above under "--Payment of
  Interest, Fees and Other Items" and third, the amount remaining, up to the
  Class B Investor Default Amount, will be deposited into the Principal
  Account and treated as a portion of Available Investor Principal
  Collections for such Transfer Date as described under "--Payments of
  Principal" below;
 
    (d) an amount equal to the aggregate amount by which the Class B Investor
  Interest has been reduced below the initial Class B Investor Interest for
  reasons other than the payment of principal to the Class B
  Certificateholders (but not in excess of the aggregate amount of such
  reductions which have not been previously reimbursed) will be deposited
  into the Principal Account and treated as a portion of Available Investor
  Principal Collections for such Transfer Date as described under "--Payments
  of Principal" below;
 
    (e) an amount equal to the Class C Monthly Interest for such Transfer
  Date, plus the amount of any Class C Monthly Interest previously due but
  not distributed to the Class C Interest Holder on a prior Transfer Date,
  will be distributed to the Class C Interest Holder;
 
                                      48
<PAGE>
 
    (f) If JCPenney or an affiliate thereof is the Servicer, an amount equal
  to the Collateral Interest Servicing Fee, plus the amount of any overdue
  Collateral Interest Servicing Fee, for the related Monthly Period will be
  paid to the Servicer;
 
    (g) an amount equal to the aggregate Class C Default Amount, if any, for
  such Transfer Date will be deposited into the Principal Account and treated
  as a portion of Available Investor Principal Collections for such Transfer
  Date as described under "--Payments of Principal" below;
 
    (h) an amount equal to the aggregate amount by which the Class C Investor
  Interest has been reduced below the Required Class C Investor Interest for
  reasons other than the payment of principal to the Class C Investor
  Interest Holder (but in excess of the aggregate amount of such reductions
  which have not been previously reimbursed) will be deposited into the
  Principal Account and treated as a portion of Available Investor Principal
  Collections for such Transfer Date as described under "--Payments of
  Principal" below; and
 
    (i) the balance, if any, after giving effect to the payments made
  pursuant to subparagraphs (a) through (h) above shall be paid to JCPR.
 
  "Class C Monthly Interest" with respect to any Transfer Date will equal one-
twelfth of the product of (a)  % per annum or a lesser rate (the "Class C
Rate") and (b) the Class C Investor Interest as of the related Record Date or,
with respect to the first Transfer Date, the Initial Class C Investor
Interest.
 
  Payments of Principal. On each Transfer Date, the Trustee, acting pursuant
to the Servicer's instructions, will distribute Available Investor Principal
Collections (see "--Principal Payments" above) on deposit in the Principal
Account in the following priority:
 
    (a) on each Transfer Date with respect to the Revolving Period, all such
  Available Investor Principal Collections will be distributed or deposited
  in the following priority:
 
      (i) an amount equal to the Class C Monthly Principal will be paid to
    the Class C Investor Interest Holder; and
 
      (ii) the balance will be paid to JCPR;
 
    (b) on each Transfer Date with respect to the Controlled Amortization
  Period or the Rapid Amortization Period, as the case may be, all such
  Available Investor Principal Collections will be distributed in the
  following priority:
 
      (i) an amount equal to Class A Monthly Principal will be distributed
    (on the related Distribution Date) to the Class A Certificateholders;
    and
 
      (ii) an amount equal to Class B Monthly Principal will be, after the
    Class A Investor Interest has been paid in full (taking into account
    payments to be made on the related Distribution Date), distributed (on
    the related Distribution Date) to the Class B Certificateholders;
 
    (c) on each Transfer Date with respect to the Controlled Amortization
  Period or the Rapid Amortization Period, as the case may be, in which a
  reduction in the Required Class C Investor Interest has occurred, Available
  Investor Principal Collections not applied to Class A Monthly Principal or
  Class B Monthly Principal will be applied to reduce the Class C Investor
  Interest to the Required Class C Investor Interest; and
 
    (d) on each Transfer Date with respect to the Controlled Amortization
  Period or the Rapid Amortization Period, as the case may be, the balance of
  Available Investor Principal Collections not applied pursuant to (b) and
  (c) above, if any, will be paid to JCPR.
 
  "Class A Monthly Principal" with respect to any Transfer Date relating to
(a) the Controlled Amortization Period or the Rapid Amortization Period, as
the case may be, prior to the payment in full of the Class A Investor
Interest, will equal the least of (i) the Available Investor Principal
collections on deposit in the Principal Account with respect to such Transfer
Date, (ii) for each Transfer Date with respect to the Controlled Amortization
Period, the Controlled Distribution Amount for such Transfer Date and (iii)
the Class A Investor Interest prior to any distributions with respect to such
Transfer Date.
 
                                      49
<PAGE>
 
  "Class B Monthly Principal" with respect to any Transfer Date relating to
(a) the Controlled Amortization Period or the Rapid Amortization Period, as
the case may be, beginning with the Transfer Date immediately preceding the
Distribution Date on which the Class A Certificates will be paid in full
(after taking into account payments to be made on the related Distribution
Date), will equal the least of (i) the Available Investor Principal
Collections on deposit in the Principal Account with respect to such Transfer
Date (minus the portion of such Available Investor Principal Collections
applied to Class A Monthly Principal on such Transfer Date), (ii) for each
Transfer Date with respect to the Controlled Amortization Period, the
Controlled Distribution Amount for such Transfer Date (minus the Class A
Monthly Principal with respect to such Transfer Date) and (iii) the Class B
Investor Interest prior to any distributions with respect to such Transfer
Date.
 
  "Class C Monthly Principal" means (a) with respect to any Transfer Date
relating to the Revolving Period following any reduction of the Required Class
C Investor Interest pursuant to clause (3) of the proviso in the definition
thereof, an amount equal to the lesser of (i) the excess, if any, of the Class
C Investor Interest (after giving effect to reductions for any Class C Charge-
Offs and Reallocated Principal Collections on such Transfer Date and after
giving effect to any adjustments thereto for the benefit of Class A
Certificateholders and Class B Certificateholders on such Transfer Date) over
the Required Class C Investor Interest on such Transfer Date and (ii) the
Available Investor Principal Collections on such Transfer Date or (b) with
respect to any Transfer Date relating to the Controlled Amortization Period or
the Rapid Amortization Period, as the case may be, an amount equal to the
lesser of (i) the excess, if any, of the Class C Investor Interest (after
giving effect to reductions for any Class C Charge-Offs and Reallocated
Principal Collections on such Transfer Date and after giving effect to any
adjustments thereto for the benefit of Class A Certificateholders and Class B
Certificateholders on such Transfer Date) over the Required Class C Investor
Interest on such Transfer Date and (ii) the excess, if any, of (A) the
Available Investor Principal Collections on such Transfer Date over (B) the
sum of the Class A Monthly Principal and the Class B Monthly Principal for
such Transfer Date.
 
  "Controlled Amortization Amount" means for any Transfer Date with respect to
the Controlled Amortization Period,     .
 
  "Deficit Controlled Amortization Amount" means (a) on the first Transfer
Date with respect to the Controlled Amortization Period, the excess, if any,
of the Controlled Amortization Amount for such Transfer Date over the amount
of Class A Monthly Principal for the related Distribution Date and (b) on each
subsequent Transfer Date with respect to the Controlled Amortization Period,
the excess, if any, of the applicable Controlled Distribution Amount for such
subsequent Transfer Date over the amount of Class A Monthly Principal for the
related Distribution Date.
 
REQUIRED CLASS C INVESTOR INTEREST
 
  The "Required Class C Investor Interest" with respect to any Transfer Date
means (i) initially $   and (ii) thereafter on each Transfer Date an amount
equal to   % of the sum of the Class A Investor Interest and the Class B
Investor Interest on such Transfer Date, after taking into account payments to
be made on the related Distribution Date, and the Class C Investor Interest on
the prior Transfer Date after any adjustments made on such prior Transfer
Date, but not less than $   ; provided, however, that (1) if certain
reductions in the Class C Investor Interest are made or if a Pay Out Event
occurs, the Required Class C Investor Interest for such Transfer Date shall
equal the Required Class C Investor Interest for the Transfer Date immediately
preceding the occurrence of such reduction or Pay Out Event, (2) in no event
shall the Required Class C Investor Interest exceed the unpaid principal
amount of the Certificates as of the last day of the Monthly Period preceding
such Transfer Date after taking into account payments to be made on the
related Distribution Date and (3) the Required Class C Investor Interest may
be reduced to a lesser amount at any time if the Rating Agency Condition is
satisfied.
 
  With respect to any Transfer Date, if the Class C Investor Interest is less
than the Required Class C Investor Interest, certain Excess Spread, if
available, will be allocated to increase the Class C Investor Interest to the
extent of such shortfall.
 
                                      50
<PAGE>
 
DEFAULTED RECEIVABLES; REBATES
 
  On or before each Transfer Date, the Servicer will calculate the Investor
Default Amount for the preceding Monthly Period. The term "Investor Default
Amount" means the product of (a) the Floating Investor Percentage and (b)
(the "Default Amount"). A portion of the Investor Default Amount will be
allocated to the Class A Certificateholders (the "Class A Investor Default
Amount") on each Transfer Date in an amount equal to the product of the Class
A Floating Allocation applicable during the related Monthly Period and the
Investor Default Amount for such Monthly Period. A portion of the Investor
Default Amount will be allocated to the Class B Certificateholders (the "Class
B Investor Default Amount") on each Transfer Date in an amount equal to the
product of the Class B Floating Allocation applicable during the related
Monthly Period and the Investor Default Amount for such Monthly Period. A
portion of the Investor Default Amount will be allocated to the Class C
Interest Holder (the "Class C Investor Default Amount") on each Transfer Date
in an amount equal to the product of the Class C Floating Allocation
applicable during the related Monthly Period and the Investor Default Amount
for such Monthly Period.
 
  On each Transfer Date, if the Class A Investor Default Amount for such
Transfer Date exceeds the amount of Class A Available Funds, Excess Spread and
Reallocated Principal Collections available to fund such amount with respect
to the Monthly Period immediately preceding such Transfer Date as described
under "--Application of Collections--Excess Spread," the Class C Investor
Interest (after giving effect to reductions for any Class C Charge-Offs and
any Reallocated Principal Collections on such Transfer Date) will be reduced
by the amount of such excess, but not more than the lesser of the Class A
Investor Default Amount and the Class C Investor Interest (after giving effect
to reductions for any Class C Charge-Offs and any Reallocated Principal
Collections on such Transfer Date) for such Transfer Date. In the event that
such reduction would cause the Class C Investor Interest to be a negative
number, the Class C Investor Interest will be reduced to zero, and the Class B
Investor Interest (after giving effect to reductions for any Class B Investor
Charge-Offs and any Reallocated Class B Principal Collections on such Transfer
Date for which the Class C Investor Interest is not reduced) will be reduced
by the amount by which the Class C Investor Interest would have been reduced
below zero. In the event that such reduction would cause the Class B Investor
Interest to be a negative number, the Class B Investor Interest will be
reduced to zero, and the Class A Investor Interest will be reduced by the
amount by which the Class B Investor Interest would have been reduced below
zero, but not more than the Class A Investor Default Amount for such Transfer
Date (a "Class A Investor Charge-Off"), which will have the effect of slowing
or reducing the return of principal and interest to the Class A
Certificateholders. If the Class A Investor Interest has been reduced by the
amount of any Class A Investor Charge-Offs, it will be reimbursed on any
Transfer Date (but not by an amount in excess of the aggregate Class A
Investor Charge-Offs) by the amount of Excess Spread allocated and available
for such purpose as described under "--Application of Collections--Excess
Spread."
 
  On each Transfer Date, if the Class B Investor Default Amount for such
Transfer Date exceeds the amount of Excess Spread and Reallocated Class C
Principal Collections which are allocated and available to fund such amount
with respect to the Monthly Period preceding such Transfer Date as described
under "--Application of Collections--Excess Spread," the Class C Investor
Interest (after giving effect to reductions for any Class C Charge-Offs and
any Reallocated Principal Collections on such Transfer Date and after giving
effect to any adjustments with respect thereto as described in the preceding
paragraph) will be reduced by the amount of such excess but not more than the
lesser of the Class B Investor Default Amount and the Class C Investor
Interest (after giving effect to reductions for any Class C Charge-Offs and
any Reallocated Principal Collections on such Transfer Date and after giving
effect to any adjustments with respect thereto as described in the preceding
paragraph) for such Transfer Date. In the event that such reduction would
cause the Class C Investor Interest to be a negative number, the Class C
Investor Interest will be reduced to zero and the Class B Investor Interest
will be reduced by the amount by which the Class C Investor Interest would
have been reduced below zero, but not more than the Class B Investor Default
Amount for such Transfer Date (a "Class B Investor Charge-Off"). The Class B
Investor Interest will also be reduced by the amount of Reallocated Class B
Principal Collections in excess of the Class C Investor Interest (after giving
effect to reductions for any Class C Charge-Offs and any Reallocated
Collateral Principal Collections on such Transfer Date) and the amount of any
portion of the Class B Investor Interest allocated to the Class A Certificates
to avoid a reduction in the Class A Investor Interest. The
 
                                      51
<PAGE>
 
Class B Investor Interest will thereafter be reimbursed (but not in excess of
the unpaid principal balance of the Class B Certificates) on any Transfer Date
by the amount of Excess Spread allocated and available for that purpose as
described under "--Application of Collections--Excess Spread."
 
  On each Transfer Date, if the Class C Investor Default Amount for such
Transfer Date exceeds the amount of Excess Spread which is allocated and
available to fund such amount as described under "--Application of
Collections--Excess Spread," the Class C Investor Interest will be reduced by
the amount of such excess but not more than the lesser of the Class C Investor
Default Amount and the Class C Investor Interest for such Transfer Date (a
"Collateral Charge-Off"). The Class C Investor Interest will also be reduced
by the amount of Reallocated Principal Collections and the amount of any
portion of the Class C Investor Interest allocated to the Class A Certificates
to avoid a reduction in the Class A Investor Interest or to the Class B
Certificates to avoid a reduction in the Class B Investor Interest. The Class
C Investor Interest will thereafter be reimbursed on any Transfer Date by the
amount of Excess Spread allocated and available for that purpose as described
under "--Application of Collections--Excess Spread."
 
  On any day that the Servicer adjusts the amount of any Principal Receivable
because of transactions occurring in respect of a rebate or refund to a
cardholder, or because such Principal Receivable was created in respect of
merchandise which was refused or returned by a cardholder or through a
fraudulent or counterfeit charge, the amount of the JCPR Amount in the Trust
will be increased or reduced, on a net basis, by the amount of the adjustment.
The JCPR Amount will also be decreased on each day on which the Receivables in
an Account are removed from the Trust because the obligor on such Account has
been transferred, at the request of such obligor, to a billing cycle of the
accounts of which are not included in the Accounts. If such reduction would
cause the JCPR Amount to be reduced below zero, JCPR shall deposit into the
Collection Account cash in the amount of such deficit.
 
REPURCHASE; FINAL PAYMENT OF PRINCIPAL; TERMINATION
 
  JCPR will have the option to effect the repurchase of the Investor Interest
on any Distribution Date on or after the month following the Class B Expected
Final Distribution Date; provided, however, that if the long-term unsecured
debt obligations of JCPenney are not rated at least Baa-3 by Moody's at the
time of such repurchase, such repurchase may only be made if the Trustee
receives an opinion of counsel to the effect that the transfer of funds by
JCPenney to JCPR to finance such repurchase would not constitute a fraudulent
conveyance under applicable law. JCPR will, to the extent necessary, fund such
repurchase through a transfer of an interest in the Exchangeable Certificate
to JCPenney. See "Description of the Receivables Purchase Agreement--Certain
Covenants." The repurchase price of the Certificates will be equal to 100% of
the Investor Interest plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon through the
Distribution Date on which the repurchase occurs and minus amounts on deposit
on such day in respect of the Investor Interest in the Finance Charge Account,
the Principal Account and the Distribution Account.
 
  In any event, if the Investor Amount has not been reduced to zero on or
prior to    ,    , final payment in respect of the Certificates as of such day
is required to be made on such day. Any such final payment will be funded by
the proceeds of the sale, to the extent necessary, of an amount of Receivables
equal to a percentage of the Investor Amount equal to 100% plus the lesser of
the JCPR Percentage or the minimum percentage of Principal Receivables in the
Trust required to be maintained by JCPR.
 
  The Trust will terminate on the day following the Distribution Date on which
the final payment of principal is scheduled to be made to the holders of all
Series then outstanding and the holder of the Exchangeable Certificate
consents thereto, and all right, title and interest in and to the Receivables
and other funds of the Trust (other than funds on deposit in the Distribution
Account) will be transferred to JCPR. Subject to prior termination as provided
above, the Pooling and Servicing Agreement provides that the Trust will
terminate automatically on September 5, 2088 ("Scheduled Termination Date"),
subject to extension in certain circumstances.
 
                                      52
<PAGE>
 
PAY OUT EVENTS
 
  As described above, the Revolving Period will continue through     ,     ,
unless a Pay Out Event occurs prior to such date. A Pay Out Event refers to
any of the following events:
 
    (a) failure on the part of JCPR or JCPenney (i) to make any payment or
  deposit on the date required under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement (or
  within five business days after such date), (ii) to observe or perform in
  any material respect the covenant of JCPR not to transfer the Receivables
  except as contemplated by the Pooling and Servicing Agreement and not to
  suffer certain liens to exist with respect to the Receivables or (iii) to
  observe or perform in any material respect any other covenants or
  agreements of JCPR or JCPenney in the Pooling and Servicing Agreement or,
  to the extent assigned to the Trust, in the Receivables Purchase Agreement,
  which continues unremedied for a period of 60 days after written notice
  thereof from the Trustee or the holders of Certificates representing not
  less than 25% of the Investor Amount;
 
    (b) any representation or warranty made by JCPR or JCPenney in the
  Pooling and Servicing Agreement or any information required to be given by
  JCPR to the Trustee to identify the Accounts proves to have been incorrect
  in any material respect when made and which continues to be incorrect in
  any material respect for a period of 60 days (or, if such breach cannot be
  cured within such time, a longer period if JCPR or JCPenney, as the case
  may be, shall be proceeding diligently to cure such breach) after written
  notice from the Trustee or the holders of Certificates representing not
  less than 25% of the Investor Amount and as a result of which the interests
  of the Certificateholders are materially and adversely affected; provided,
  however, that a Pay Out Event, as provided in this clause (b), shall not be
  deemed to occur thereunder if JCPR has accepted retransfer of the related
  Receivable or all such Receivables, if applicable, during such period (or
  such longer period as the Trustee may specify) in accordance with the
  provisions thereof;
 
    (c) certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or receivership relating to
  JCPR or JCPenney;
 
    (d) any reduction of the average Portfolio Yield for any three
  consecutive Monthly Periods to a rate which is less than the Base Rate;
 
    (e) the Trust becomes an "investment company" within the meaning of the
  Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Investment Company Act");
 
    (f) a failure by JCPR to transfer Receivables from Additional Accounts to
  the Trust after the average JCPR Amount for any 30-day period shall
  represent less than 10% (or such greater or lesser percentage as may be
  specified in any future supplement) of the average amount of Principal
  Receivables for such 30-day period and such failure shall continue
  unremedied for a period of 30 days after notice thereof by the Trustee; or
 
    (g) any Servicer Default (as hereinafter defined) occurs which would have
  a material adverse effect on the Certificateholders.
 
  In the case of any event described in clause (a) or (b), a Pay Out Event
will be deemed to have occurred only if, after any applicable grace period
described in such clauses, either the Trustee or Certificateholders evidencing
undivided interests aggregating not less than 25% of the Investor Amount, by
written notice to JCPR and the Servicer (and to the Trustee if given by the
Certificateholders), declare that a Pay Out Event has occurred as of the date
of such notice. In the case of any event described in clause (g), a Pay Out
Event will be deemed to have occurred only if either the Trustee or
Certificateholders evidencing undivided interests aggregating not less than
25% of the aggregate principal amount of all Series, by written notice to JCPR
and the Servicer (and to the Trustee if given by the Certificateholders),
declare that a Pay Out Event has occurred with respect to all Series as of the
date of such notice. In the case of any event described in clause (c) or (e),
a Pay Out Event with respect to all Series, and in the case of any event
described in clause (d) or (f), a Pay Out Event with respect to the
Certificates will be deemed to have occurred without any notice or other
action on the part of the Trustee or the Certificateholders immediately upon
the occurrence of such event. On the date on which a Pay Out Event is deemed
to have occurred, the Rapid Amortization Period will commence. In such event,
distributions of principal to the Certificateholders will begin on the first
Distribution Date following the month in which the Pay Out Event
 
                                      53
<PAGE>
 
occurred unless the Controlled Amortization Period previously commenced. If,
because of the occurrence of a Pay Out Event, the Rapid Amortization Period
begins earlier than     ,     , the scheduled commencement of the Controlled
Amortization Period, Certificateholders will begin receiving distributions of
principal earlier than they otherwise would have, which may shorten the final
maturity of the Certificates.
 
  In addition to the consequences of a Pay Out Event discussed above, if
pursuant to certain provisions of federal law, JCPR becomes party to any
bankruptcy or similar proceeding (other than as a claimant) and, if such
proceeding is not voluntary and is not dismissed within 90 days of its
institution, JCPR will on the date of such event immediately cease to transfer
Principal Receivables to the Trust and promptly give notice to the Trustee of
such event. Within 15 days, the Trustee will publish a notice of such event
stating that the Trustee intends to sell, dispose of or otherwise liquidate
the Receivables in a commercially reasonable manner. Unless otherwise
instructed within 90 days of the date of such publication by the holders of
certificates of all Series then outstanding representing undivided interests
aggregating more than 50% of the investor amount of all Series then
outstanding, the Trustee will sell, dispose of or otherwise liquidate the
Receivables in a commercially reasonable manner and on commercially reasonable
terms. The proceeds from the sale, disposition or liquidation of the
Receivables will be treated as collections on the Receivables and the Investor
Percentage of such proceeds allocable to the Certificates will be distributed
to the Certificateholders.
 
SERVICING COMPENSATION AND PAYMENT OF EXPENSES
 
  The share of the Servicer's compensation allocable to the Investor Interest
with respect to any Transfer Date (the "Investor Servicing Fee") shall be
equal to one-twelfth of the product of (a) 2.0% (the "Servicing Fee Rate") and
(b) the Investor Interest as of the last day of the Monthly Period preceding
such Transfer Date; provided, however, with respect to the first Transfer
Date, the Investor Servicing Fee shall be equal to $   .
 
  The share of the Investor Servicing Fee allocable to the Class A
Certificateholders with respect to any Transfer Date (the "Class A Servicing
Fee") shall be equal to one-twelfth of the product of (a) the Class A Floating
Allocation, (b) the Servicing Fee Rate and (c) the Investor Interest as of the
last day of the Monthly Period preceding such Transfer Date; provided,
however, that with respect to the first Transfer Date, the Class A Servicing
Fee shall be equal to $   . The share of the Investor Servicing Fee allocable
to the Class B Certificateholders with respect to any Transfer Date (the
"Class B Servicing Fee") shall be equal to one-twelfth of the product of (a)
the Class B Floating Allocation, (b) the Servicing Fee Rate and (c) the Class
C Investor Interest as of the last day of the Monthly Period preceding such
Transfer Date; provided, however, that with respect to the first Transfer
Date, the Class B Servicing Fee shall be equal to $   . The share of the
Investor Servicing Fee allocable to the Class C Interest Holder with respect
to any Transfer Date (the "Class C Servicing Fee" and, together with the Class
A Servicing Fee and the Class B Servicing Fee, the "Certificateholder
Servicing Fee") shall be equal to one-twelfth of the product of (a) the Class
C Floating Allocation, (b) the Servicing Fee Rate and (c) the Investor
Interest as of the last day of the Monthly Period preceding such Transfer
Date; provided, however, that with respect to the first Transfer Date, the
Class C Servicing Fee shall be equal to $  . The remainder of the Servicer's
compensation shall be paid by JCPR or other Series (as provided in the related
Supplements). The Class A Servicing Fee and the Class B Servicing Fee shall be
payable to the Servicer solely to the extent amounts are available for
distribution in respect thereof as described under "--Application of
Collections--Payment of Interest, Fees and Other Items."
 
  The Servicer will pay from its servicing compensation the expenses incurred
in connection with servicing the Receivables including, without limitation,
payment of the fees and disbursements of independent accountants. The
Servicer's estimated average out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection
with the collection of Receivables that have been charged off will be netted
against recoveries of such Receivables.
 
CERTAIN MATTERS REGARDING THE SERVICER
 
  The Servicer may not resign from its obligations and duties under the
Pooling and Servicing Agreement except upon determination that performance of
its duties is no longer permissible under applicable law. No such resignation
will become effective until the Trustee or a successor to the Servicer has
assumed the Servicer's
 
                                      54
<PAGE>
 
responsibilities and obligations under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement.
The Servicer may delegate any of its servicing duties to any person or entity
that agrees to conduct such duties in accordance with JCPenney's credit card
guidelines and the Pooling and Servicing Agreement; however, such delegation
will not relieve the Servicer of its obligation to perform such duties in
accordance with the Pooling and Servicing Agreement.
 
  The Pooling and Servicing Agreement provides that JCPenney, as initial
Servicer, will indemnify the Trust and the Trustee from and against any loss,
liability, expense, damage or injury suffered or sustained by them and arising
out of the activities of the Trust or the Trustee; provided, however, that
JCPenney shall not indemnify (a) the Trustee for liabilities imposed by reason
of fraud, negligence, breach of fiduciary duty or misconduct by the Trustee in
the performance of its duties under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement, (b)
the Trust or the Certificateholders for liabilities arising from actions taken
by the Trustee at the request of Certificateholders, (c) the Trust or the
Certificateholders as to any losses, claims, damages or liabilities incurred
by a Certificateholder in its capacity as an investor, including without
limitation, losses incurred as a result of defaulted Receivables or
Receivables which are written off as uncollectible or (d) the Trust or the
Certificateholders for any liabilities, costs or expenses of the Trust or the
Certificateholders arising under any tax law, including without limitation,
any federal, state or local income or franchise tax 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
or the Certificateholders in connection with the Trust or the
Certificateholders to any taxing authority. The Pooling and Servicing
Agreement provides that neither JCPR nor the Servicer nor any of their
respective directors, officers, employees or agents is under any other
liability to the Trust, the Certificateholders or any other person for any
action taken, or for refraining from taking any action, in good faith pursuant
to the Pooling and Servicing Agreement. Neither JCPR nor the Servicer nor any
of their respective directors, officers, employees or agents is protected
against any liability which would otherwise be imposed by reason of willful
misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence of JCPR, the Servicer or any such
person in the performance of duties or by reason of reckless disregard of
obligations and duties thereunder. In addition, the Pooling and Servicing
Agreement provides that the Servicer is not under any obligation to appear in,
prosecute or defend any legal action which is not incidental to its servicing
responsibilities under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement and which in its
opinion may expose it to any expense or liability. The Servicer may, in its
sole discretion, undertake any such legal action which it may deem necessary
or desirable with respect to the Pooling and Servicing Agreement and the
rights and duties of the parties thereto and the interest of the
Certificateholders thereunder.
 
  Any entity into which, in accordance with the Pooling and Servicing
Agreement, the Servicer may be merged or consolidated or any entity resulting
from any merger or consolidation to which the Servicer is a party, or any
entity succeeding to the business of the Servicer, upon execution of a
supplement to the Pooling and Servicing Agreement and delivery of an opinion
of counsel with respect to the compliance of the transaction with the
applicable provisions of the Pooling and Servicing Agreement, will be the
successor to the Servicer under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement.
 
SERVICER DEFAULTS
 
  In the event of any Servicer Default (as hereinafter defined), either the
Trustee, or certificateholders representing undivided interests aggregating
not less than 51% of the aggregate investor amount of all Series, by written
notice to the Servicer (and to the Trustee if given by the
certificateholders), may terminate all of the rights and obligations of the
Servicer as servicer under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement and in and to
the Receivables and the proceeds thereof. The rights and interests of JCPR
under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement and in the JCPR Amount will not be
affected by such termination. The Trustee shall as promptly as possible
appoint a successor Servicer and, if no successor Servicer has been appointed
by the Trustee and has accepted its appointment by the time the Servicer
ceases to act as Servicer, all authority, power and obligations of the
Servicer under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement shall pass to and be vested
in the Trustee. If the Trustee is unable to obtain any bids from eligible
Servicers and JCPenney delivers an officer's certificate to the effect that it
cannot in good faith cure the Servicer Default which gave rise to a transfer
of servicing, then the Trustee shall offer JCPR the right to accept retransfer
of all the Receivables. The deposit amount for such a
 
                                      55
<PAGE>
 
retransfer shall be equal to the higher of the outstanding principal balance
of the Certificates and all certificates of other Series, plus accrued
interest thereon at the certificate rate for each Series, through the date of
transfer and the average bid price quoted by two recognized dealers for a
similar security rated in the highest rating category by a Rating Agency and
having a remaining maturity substantially similar to the maturity of such
Series.
 
  A "Servicer Default" refers to any of the following events:
 
    (a) failure by the Servicer to make any payment, transfer or deposit or
  any drawing under any letter of credit or other form of credit enhancement
  for any other Series, or to give instructions to the Trustee to make any
  withdrawal, or to give notice to the Trustee of any drawing required to be
  made by the Servicer under any such letter of credit or other form of
  credit enhancement, on the date the Servicer is required to do so under the
  Pooling and Servicing Agreement (or within five business days after such
  date);
 
    (b) a failure on the part of the Servicer duly to observe or perform in
  any respect any other covenants or agreements of the Servicer which has a
  material adverse effect on the Certificateholders or the holders of
  certificates of any other Series which continues unremedied for a period of
  60 days after written notice by the Trustee or holders of certificates
  evidencing undivided interests in the Trust aggregating not less than 25%
  of the investor amount of all Series, or the delegation by the Servicer of
  its duties under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement, except as
  specifically permitted thereunder;
 
    (c) any representation, warranty or certification made by the Servicer in
  the Pooling and Servicing Agreement, or in any certificate delivered
  pursuant to the Pooling and Servicing Agreement or any Supplement, proves
  to have been incorrect when made which has a material adverse effect on the
  rights of the Certificateholders or the holders of certificates of any
  other Series, and which continues to be incorrect in any material respect
  for a period of 60 days (or, if such default cannot be cured within such
  time, a longer period if the Servicer shall be proceeding diligently to
  cure such default) after written notice by the Trustee or holders of
  certificates evidencing undivided interests in the Trust aggregating not
  less than 25% of the investor amount of all Series; or
 
    (d) the occurrence of certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or
  receivership of the Servicer.
 
REPORTS TO CERTIFICATEHOLDERS
 
  On each Distribution Date, the Paying Agent will forward to each
Certificateholder of record a statement prepared by the Servicer setting
forth: (a) the total amount distributed on the Certificates, (b) the amount of
the distribution on such Distribution Date allocable to principal on the
Certificates, (c) the amount of the distribution allocable to interest on the
Certificates, (d) the respective amounts of collections of Principal
Receivables, Finance Charge Receivables and Net Recoveries, if any, processed
during the preceding month and allocated to the Certificates, (e) the
aggregate amount of Principal Receivables and the applicable Investor Amount
as a percentage of the aggregate amount of the Principal Receivables in the
Trust as of the end of the last day of the related Monthly Period, (f) the
aggregate outstanding balance of Accounts which are one, two, three, four,
five and six or more months delinquent by class of delinquency as of the end
of the last day of such Monthly Period, (g) the Investor Default Amount for
such Monthly Period, (h) the amount of Investor Charge Offs for such Monthly
Period or the amount of reimbursements of previous Investor Charge Offs, (i)
the amount of the Investor Servicing Fee for such Monthly Period, and (j) the
Pool Factor as of the end of the last day of such Monthly Period. The "Pool
Factor" is an eight-digit decimal expressing the ratio of the Investor Amount
as of any such time to the aggregate face amount of the Certificates.
 
  On or before January 31 of each calendar year, beginning with 1999, JCPR
will furnish to each person who at any time during the preceding calendar year
was a Certificateholder of record a statement prepared by JCPR containing the
information required to be contained in the regular monthly report to
Certificateholders, as set forth in clauses (a), (b) and (c) above aggregated
for such calendar year or the applicable portion thereof during which such
person was a Certificateholder, together with such other customary information
(consistent with the treatment of the Certificates as debt) as the Trustee or
the Servicer deems necessary or desirable to enable the Certificateholders to
prepare their tax returns.
 
 
                                      56
<PAGE>
 
EVIDENCE AS TO COMPLIANCE
 
  The Pooling and Servicing Agreement provides that on or before April 15 of
each calendar year, beginning in 1999, the Servicer will cause a firm of
independent public accountants to furnish: (1) A report to the effect that
such firm has examined the monthly servicer's certificates for the preceding
annual period in accordance with standards established by the American
Institute of Certified Public Accountants; and (2) A report to the effect
that, in connection with their examination no matters came to the attention of
such accountants that caused them to believe that such servicing was not
conducted in compliance with specified sections of the Pooling and Servicing
Agreement, except for such exceptions or errors as such firm shall believe to
be immaterial and such other exceptions as shall be set forth in such report.
The Trustee will make such reports available for inspection by
Certificateholders upon request.
 
  The Pooling and Servicing Agreement provides for delivery to the Trustee on
or before April 15 of each calendar year, and has so delivered for each year
since 1989, of an annual statement signed by an officer of the Servicer to the
effect that the Servicer has fully performed its obligations under the Pooling
and Servicing Agreement throughout the preceding year, or, if there has been a
default in the performance of any such obligation, specifying the nature and
status of the default.
 
TRANSFER OF ACCOUNTS AND ASSUMPTION OF JCPENNEY'S AND JCPR'S OBLIGATIONS
 
  Upon the satisfaction of certain conditions, JCPenney and JCPR may transfer
all or a portion of JCPenney's or JCP Card Bank's consumer open end credit
card accounts and the receivables arising thereunder, which may include all,
but not less than all, of the Accounts and JCPenney's and JCPR's remaining
interest in the Receivables arising thereunder and in the Trust (collectively,
the "Assigned Assets"), together with all servicing functions and other
obligations under the Receivables Purchase Agreement and the Pooling and
Servicing Agreement or relating to the transactions contemplated thereby
(collectively, the "Assumed Obligations"), to another entity (the "Assuming
Entity") which may be an entity that is not affiliated with JCPenney or JCPR.
Pursuant to the Series E Supplement, following the respective final payment
dates of the Series B and Series C Certificates, JCPenney and JCPR shall be
permitted to assign, convey and transfer the Assigned Assets and the Assumed
Obligations to the Assuming Entity, without the consent or approval of
Certificateholders if the following conditions, among others, are satisfied:
(i) the Assuming Entity, the Trustee and JCPenney or JCPR, as the case may be,
shall have entered into an assumption agreement providing for the Assuming
Entity to assume the Assumed Obligations, including the obligations under the
Receivables Purchase Agreement and the Pooling and Servicing Agreement, as the
case may be, to transfer the Receivables arising under the Accounts to JCPR or
the Trust, as the case may be, (ii) all filings required to perfect the
interest of JCPenney, JCPR or the Trustee, as the case may be, in the
Receivables arising under such Accounts shall have been duly made and copies
thereof shall have been delivered to the Trustee, (iii) the Rating Agency
Condition, (iv) JCPenney, JCPR, or the Trustee, as the case may be, shall have
received an opinion of counsel with respect to clauses (i) and (ii) above and
as to certain other matters and (v) the Trustee shall have received an opinion
as to certain tax matters. After a permitted transfer and assumption, JCPenney
will have no further liability or obligation under the Receivables Purchase
Agreement and Pooling and Servicing Agreement, other than those liabilities
that arose prior to such transfer, and JCPenney and JCPR will remain liable
for all representations, warranties and covenants made by them prior to such
transfer.
 
AMENDMENTS
 
  The Pooling and Servicing Agreement and any Supplement may be amended by
JCPR, the Servicer and the Trustee, without certificateholder consent, to cure
any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision therein which may be
inconsistent with any other provision therein, or to add any other provisions
with respect to matters or questions arising under the Pooling and Servicing
Agreement or any Supplement which are not inconsistent with the provisions of
the Pooling and Servicing Agreement or any Supplement. No such amendment,
however, may adversely affect in any material respect the interests of
existing certificateholders; provided, however, that any Supplement may
contain provisions permitted under "--Exchanges" above.
 
 
                                      57
<PAGE>
 
  The Pooling and Servicing Agreement and any Supplement may also be amended
by JCPR, the Servicer and the Trustee (a) with the consent of the holders of
certificates evidencing undivided interests aggregating not less than 66 2/3%
of the investor amounts of all Series adversely affected or (b) following the
respective final payment dates of the Series B and Series C Certificates, by
satisfying the Rating Agency Condition for the purpose of adding any
provisions to, changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of
the Pooling and Servicing Agreement or any Supplement or of modifying in any
manner the rights of Certificateholders. Except as permitted pursuant to the
provisions described in "--Exchanges" above, no such amendment, however, may
(a) reduce in any manner the amount of, or delay the timing of, distributions
required to be made on any Certificate, (b) change the definition of or the
manner of calculating the Investor Amount, the Investor Percentage or the
Investor Default Amount or (c) reduce the aforesaid percentage of undivided
interests the holders of which are required to consent to any such amendment,
in each case without the consent of each Certificateholder affected thereby.
Promptly following the execution of any amendment to the Pooling and Servicing
Agreement or any Supplement, the Trustee will furnish written notice of the
substance of such amendment to each Certificateholder.
 
LIST OF CERTIFICATEHOLDERS
 
  At such time, if any, as Definitive Certificates have been issued, upon
written request of certificateholders of record representing undivided
interests in the Trust aggregating not less than 5% of the investor amount of
all Series, after having been adequately indemnified by such
certificateholders for its costs and expenses, and having given the Servicer
notice that such report has been made, the Trustee will afford such
certificateholders access during business hours to the current list of
certificateholders of the Trust for purposes of communicating with other
certificateholders with respect to their rights under the Pooling and
Servicing Agreement. See "--Book-Entry Registration" and "--Definitive
Certificates."
 
THE TRUSTEE
 
      is the Trustee under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement. JCPR, the
Servicer and their respective affiliates may from time to time enter into
normal banking and trustee relationships with the Trustee and its affiliates.
The Trustee, JCPR, the Servicer and any of their respective affiliates may
hold certificates in their own names. In addition, for purposes of meeting the
legal requirements of certain local jurisdictions, the Trustee shall have the
power to appoint a co-trustee or separate trustees of all or any part of the
Trust. In the event of such appointment, all rights, powers, duties and
obligations conferred or imposed upon the Trustee by the Pooling and Servicing
Agreement shall be conferred or imposed upon the Trustee and such separate
trustee or co-trustee jointly, or, in any jurisdiction in which the Trustee
shall be incompetent or unqualified to perform certain acts, singly upon such
separate trustee or co-trustee who shall exercise and perform such rights,
powers, duties and obligations solely at the direction of Trustee.
 
  The Trustee may resign at any time, in which event JCPR will be obligated to
appoint a successor Trustee. JCPR may also remove the Trustee if the Trustee
ceases to be eligible to continue as such under the Pooling and Servicing
Agreement or if the Trustee becomes insolvent. In such circumstances, JCPR
will be obligated to appoint a successor Trustee. Any resignation or removal
of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee does not become
effective until acceptance of the appointment by the successor Trustee.
 
               DESCRIPTION OF THE RECEIVABLES PURCHASE AGREEMENT
 
  The Receivables transferred to the Trust by JCPR were acquired by JCPR from
JCPenney pursuant to the Receivables Purchase Agreement entered into between
JCPR, as purchaser of the Receivables, and JCPenney, as seller of the
Receivables. (Copies of the Receivables Purchase Agreement are filed as
exhibits to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus is a part.)
Under the Receivables Purchase Agreement, JCPenney has agreed to sell or
transfer the Receivables then existing and thereafter created in specified
Accounts to JCPR. Pursuant to the Pooling and Servicing Agreement, all such
Receivables are immediately transferred by JCPR to the Trust,
 
                                      58
<PAGE>
 
and JCPR has assigned its rights in, to and under the Receivables Purchase
Agreement with respect to such Receivables to the Trust. The following summary
describes certain terms of the Receivables Purchase Agreement and is qualified
in its entirety by reference to the Receivables Purchase Agreement.
 
SALE OR TRANSFER OF RECEIVABLES
 
  Pursuant to the Receivables Purchase Agreement, JCPenney has sold or
transferred to JCPR all its right, title and interest in and to (i) all of the
Receivables in the Accounts and all of the Receivables thereafter created in
such Accounts and (ii) the Receivables in each Additional Account added from
time to time to the Accounts as of the date of such addition, whether such
Receivables shall then be existing or shall thereafter be created. The
purchase price of the purchased Receivables is the face amount thereof as of
the time of sale and is payable by JCPR in cash or, at the election of JCPR,
by assigning to JCPenney an interest in JCPR's interest in the Trust,
including JCPR's interest in the Exchangeable Certificate, or a combination
thereof. A portion of the transferred Receivables has been contributed by
JCPenney to the capital of JCPR.
 
  In connection with the sale or transfer of the Receivables to JCPR, JCPenney
has or will indicate in its computer files that the Receivables have been sold
or transferred to JCPR by JCPenney and that such Receivables have been
transferred by JCPR to the Trust. In addition, JCPenney has or will provide to
JCPR a computer file or a microfiche list containing a true and complete list
showing each Account, identified by account number and by total outstanding
balance on the applicable cut-off date. The records and agreements relating to
the Accounts and Receivables are not segregated by JCPenney from other
documents and agreements relating to other credit card accounts and
receivables and are not stamped or marked to reflect the sale or transfer of
the Receivables to JCPR, but the computer records of JCPenney are or will be
marked to evidence such sale or transfer. JCPenney has filed a UCC financing
statement meeting the requirements of state law in Texas and in each of the
jurisdictions in which the books and records relating to the Accounts are
maintained with respect to the Receivables in the Accounts and will similarly
file with respect to the Receivables in new Additional Accounts. See "Risk
Factors--Certain Legal Aspects" and "Certain Legal Aspects of the
Receivables."
 
  Pursuant to the Receivables Purchase Agreement, JCPenney will, if JCPR is
required to cause JCPenney to designate Additional Accounts under the Pooling
and Servicing Agreement, designate Additional Accounts to be included as
Accounts under the Receivables Purchase Agreement. JCPenney and JCPR may also
agree from time to time to designate Additional Accounts under the Receivables
Purchase Agreement. Additional Accounts will also be automatically included as
Accounts when added to Cycles One, Two, Three or Four in the normal operation
of JCPenney's credit card business. JCPR may require JCPenney to repurchase
Accounts designated as Removed Accounts pursuant to the Pooling and Servicing
Agreement. See "Description of the Certificates and the Pooling and Servicing
Agreement--Removal of Accounts." The purchase price for accounts so designated
will be an amount equal to the total recorded unpaid principal balance
thereof.
 
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
 
  JCPenney represents and warrants to JCPR to the effect that, among other
things, (a) as of the Closing Date, it is duly incorporated and in good
standing and that it has the authority to consummate the transactions
contemplated by the Receivables Purchase Agreement and (b) as of the Addition
Date (or as of the date of the addition of Additional Accounts), each Account
was an Eligible Account.
 
  JCPenney also represents and warrants to JCPR relating to the Receivables to
the effect, among other things, that (a) as of the Closing Date, each of the
Receivables then existing is an Eligible Receivable and (b) as of the date any
new Receivable is created, such Receivable is an Eligible Receivable and the
representation and warranty set forth in clause (b) in the immediately
following paragraph is true and correct with respect to such Receivable. In
the event of a breach of any representation and warranty set forth in this
paragraph which results in the requirement that JCPR accept retransfer of each
Ineligible Receivable as to which such breach relates pursuant to the Pooling
and Servicing Agreement, then JCPenney shall repurchase such Ineligible
Receivable from JCPR on the date of such retransfer. The purchase price for
such Ineligible Receivable shall be the face amount thereof, of which at least
the amount of any cash deposit required to be made by JCPR under the Pooling
and Servicing Agreement in respect of the retransfer of such Ineligible
Receivable shall be paid in cash.
 
                                      59
<PAGE>
 
  JCPenney also represents and warrants to JCPR to the effect, among other
things, that as of the Closing Date (a) the Receivables Purchase Agreement
constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of JCPenney and (b) the
Receivables Purchase Agreement constitutes a valid sale or transfer to JCPR of
all right, title and interest of JCPenney in and to the Receivables, whether
then existing or thereafter created in the Accounts and the proceeds thereof
which is effective as to each Receivable upon the creation thereof. If the
breach of any of the representations and warranties described in this
paragraph results in the obligation of JCPR under the Pooling and Servicing
Agreement to accept retransfer of the Trust portfolio, JCPenney will
repurchase the Receivables retransferred to JCPR for an amount of cash equal
to the amount of cash JCPR is required to deposit under the Pooling and
Servicing Agreement in connection with such retransfer.
 
  JCPenney has also agreed to indemnify JCPR and to hold JCPR harmless from
and against any and all losses, damages and expenses (including reasonable
attorneys' fees) suffered or incurred by JCPR if the foregoing representations
and warranties are materially false.
 
CERTAIN COVENANTS
 
  In the Receivables Purchase Agreement, JCPenney covenants to perform its
obligations under the credit card agreements relating to the Accounts and
JCPenney's policies and procedures relating to the Accounts unless the failure
to do so would not have a material adverse effect on the rights of the Trust,
as assignee of the Receivables, or the certificateholders of the Trust. In
that regard, JCPenney and its affiliates may change the terms and provisions
of such credit card agreements or policies and procedures in any respect
(including, without limitation, the calculation of the amount, or the timing,
of charge offs), so long as any such changes are made applicable to comparable
segments of the revolving credit accounts owned and serviced by JCPenney which
have characteristics the same as, or substantially similar to, the Accounts.
 
  JCPenney also covenants that, except as required by law or as JCPenney shall
deem necessary in order for JCPenney to maintain its business on a competitive
basis based on a good faith assessment by JCPenney of the nature of its
competition in its business, JCPenney will not reduce the finance charges or
other fees, if any, assessed in respect of the Accounts if, as a result of
such reduction, in JCPenney's reasonable expectation the Portfolio Yield as of
the time of such reduction would be less than the highest of the base rates of
all Series then outstanding.
 
  JCPenney further covenants that, if JCPR becomes obligated to effect the
mandatory repurchase of the Certificates pursuant to the provisions of the
Pooling and Servicing Agreement described in the first paragraph under
"Description of the Certificates and the Pooling and Servicing Agreement--
Repurchase; Final Payment of Principal; Termination," JCPenney will provide
JCPR with any funds necessary for JCPR to effect such mandatory repurchase
through the purchase of an interest in JCPR's interest in the Trust.
 
  In addition, JCPenney expressly acknowledges and consents to JCPR's
assignment of its rights relating to the Receivables under the Receivables
Purchase Agreement to the Trustee for the benefit of the Certificateholders.
JCPenney also agrees, for the benefit of the Trustee, that any amounts payable
by JCPenney to JCPR pursuant to the Receivables Purchase Agreement that are to
be paid by JCPR to the Trustee for the benefit of the Certificateholders will
be paid by JCPenney, on behalf of JCPR, directly to the Trustee.
 
TERMINATION
 
  The Receivables Purchase Agreement will terminate immediately after the
Trust terminates. In addition, if pursuant to certain provisions of Federal
law, JCPenney becomes party to any bankruptcy or similar proceeding (other
than as a claimant) and, if such proceeding is not voluntary and is not
dismissed within 90 days of its institution, JCPenney will immediately cease
to sell or transfer Receivables to JCPR and promptly give notice of such event
to JCPR and to the Trustee.
 
                                      60
<PAGE>
 
                   CERTAIN LEGAL ASPECTS OF THE RECEIVABLES
 
TRANSFER OF RECEIVABLES
 
  JCPenney has sold or transferred the Receivables to JCPR and JCPR has
transferred the Receivables to the Trust. JCPenney warrants to JCPR that the
sale or transfer constitutes a valid sale or transfer to JCPR of all right,
title and interest of JCPenney in and to the Receivables, and JCPR warrants to
the Trustee that its transfer constitutes a valid transfer to the Trust of all
right, title and interest of JCPR in and to the Receivables, except for the
interest of JCPR as holder of the Exchangeable Certificate. JCPR further
warrants to the Trust that if the transfer of the Receivables to the Trust
does not constitute a valid transfer of the Receivables, it constitutes a
grant of a security interest to the Trust in and to the Receivables. JCPR also
warrants to the Trust that, if the transfer of Receivables to the Trust is
deemed to create a security interest under the UCC, there exists a valid,
subsisting and enforceable first priority perfected security interest in the
Receivables in existence at the time of the formation of the Trust in favor of
the Trust and a valid, subsisting and enforceable first priority perfected
security interest in the Receivables created thereafter in favor of the Trust
on and after their creation (except for certain tax liens), in each case until
termination of the Trust. For a discussion of the Trust's rights arising from
a breach of these warranties, see "Description of the Certificates and the
Pooling and Servicing Agreement--Representations and Warranties."
 
  JCPenney warrants to JCPR, and JCPR warrants to the Trust, that the
Receivables are "accounts" for the purposes of the UCC. Both the sale or
transfer of accounts and the transfer of accounts as security for an
obligation are treated under the UCC as creating a security interest therein
and are subject to its provisions, and in either case the filing of
appropriate financing statements is required to perfect the interests of JCPR
and the Trust in the Receivables. Therefore, financing statements covering the
Receivables in the Accounts have been, and in new Additional Accounts will be,
filed under the UCC to protect JCPR and the Trust.
 
  There are certain limited circumstances under the UCC in which a prior or
subsequent transferee of Receivables could have an interest in Receivables
with priority over the Trust's interest. Under the Receivables Purchase
Agreement, however, JCPenney warrants, and under the Pooling and Servicing
Agreement, JCPR warrants, that JCPenney or JCPR, as the case may be, has sold
or transferred the Receivables to JCPR or the Trust, as the case may be, free
and clear of the lien of any third party. In addition, JCPenney and JCPR
covenant that JCPenney or JCPR, as the case may be, will not sell, pledge,
assign, transfer or grant any lien on any Receivable (or any interest therein)
other than to JCPR or the Trust, as the case may be. A tax or other government
lien on property of JCPenney or JCPR arising prior to the time a Receivable
comes into existence may also have priority over the interest of the Trust in
such Receivable.
 
CERTAIN MATTERS RELATING TO BANKRUPTCY
 
  JCPR does not and will not engage in any activities except purchasing
accounts receivable from JCPenney, forming trusts, transferring such accounts
receivable to such trusts and engaging in activities incident to, or necessary
or convenient to accomplish, the foregoing. JCPR has no intention of filing a
voluntary petition under the United States Bankruptcy Code or any similar
applicable state law so long as JCPR is solvent and does not reasonably
foresee becoming insolvent.
 
  The voluntary or involuntary application for relief under the United States
Bankruptcy Code or any similar applicable state law with respect to JCPenney
should not necessarily result in a similar voluntary application with respect
to JCPR so long as JCPR is solvent and does not reasonably foresee becoming
insolvent either by reason of JCPenney's insolvency or otherwise. Counsel has
advised JCPenney and JCPR that (i) a voluntary application for relief under
the United States Bankruptcy Code or any similar applicable state law with
respect to JCPR may not lawfully be filed without the prior consent of all
directors of JCPR including its independent director, (ii) subject to certain
assumptions (including the assumption that separateness and corporate
formalities are observed by JCPenney and JCPR), the assets and liabilities of
JCPR should not be substantively consolidated with the assets and liabilities
of JCPenney in the event of an application for relief under the United States
 
                                      61
<PAGE>
 
Bankruptcy Code with respect to JCPenney and (iii) the sale and transfer of
Receivables in the Accounts by JCPenney to JCPR constitutes a valid sale and
transfer and, therefore, such Receivables in the Accounts would not be
property of JCPenney in the event of the filing of an application for relief
by or against JCPenney under the United States Bankruptcy Code. If, however, a
bankruptcy trustee for JCPenney, JCPenney as debtor in possession or a
creditor of JCPenney were to take the view that JCPenney and JCPR should be
substantively consolidated or that the transfer of the Receivables in the
Accounts from JCPenney to JCPR (and therefore from JCPR to the Trust) should
be recharacterized as a pledge of such Receivables in the Accounts, then
delays in payments on the Certificates or (should the bankruptcy court rule in
favor of any such trustee, debtor in possession or creditor) reductions in
such payments could result.
 
CONSUMER PROTECTION LAWS
 
  The relationship between a cardholder and a credit card issuer is
extensively regulated by federal and state consumer protection laws. With
respect to the JCPenney credit card, the most significant federal laws are
those included in the Federal Consumer Credit Protection Act. These laws
require, among other things, extension of credit without regard to
impermissible personal attributes (such as race or sex), disclosure of credit
costs both before credit is extended and thereafter in each monthly account
statement, timely response to claimed billing errors and prompt application of
payments and credits against an outstanding account balance. The Trust may be
liable for certain violations of consumer protection laws that apply to the
Receivables, either as assignee from JCPenney and JCPR with respect to
obligations arising before transfer of the Receivables to the Trust or as the
party directly responsible for obligations arising after the transfer. In
addition, a cardholder may be entitled to assert such violations by way of set
off against the obligation to pay the amount of Receivables owing. JCPR has
agreed to accept from the Trust, and JCPenney has agreed to accept from JCPR,
the retransfer of all Receivables that have been written off and that were not
created in compliance in all material respects with the requirements of such
laws. For a discussion of the Trust's rights in the case of Receivables that
are not created in compliance in all material respects with applicable laws,
see "Description of the Certificates and the Pooling and Servicing Agreement--
Representations and Warranties."
 
  Application of federal and state bankruptcy and debtor relief laws would
affect the interests of the Certificateholders if such laws result in any
Receivables being written off as uncollectible. See "Description of the
Certificates and the Pooling and Servicing Agreement--Defaulted Receivables
and Rebates."
 
                 CERTAIN U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
 
GENERAL
 
  The following discussion, summarizing certain anticipated U.S. federal
income tax aspects of the purchase, ownership and disposition of the
Certificates, is based upon the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended (the "Code"), proposed, temporary and final Treasury
regulations thereunder, and published rulings and court decisions in effect as
of the date hereof, all of which are subject to change, possibly
retroactively. This discussion does not address every aspect of the federal
income tax laws that may be relevant to Certificate Owners in light of their
personal investment circumstances or to certain types of Certificate Owners
subject to special treatment under the federal income tax laws (for example,
banks and life insurance companies). PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS ARE ADVISED TO
CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS WITH REGARD TO THE FEDERAL TAX CONSEQUENCES OF
THE PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP, OR DISPOSITION OF INTERESTS IN CERTIFICATES, AS WELL
AS THE TAX CONSEQUENCES ARISING UNDER THE LAWS OF ANY STATE, FOREIGN COUNTRY,
OR OTHER TAXING JURISDICTION.
 
CHARACTERIZATION OF THE CERTIFICATES AS INDEBTEDNESS
 
  Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, special tax counsel to JCPenney
and JCPR ("Special Tax Counsel") will, upon issuance of the Certificates,
advise JCPR based on the assumptions and qualifications set forth in the
opinion that the Certificates will be treated as indebtedness for federal
income tax purposes. However,
 
                                      62
<PAGE>
 
opinions of counsel are not binding on the Internal Revenue Service (the
"IRS") and there can be no assurance that the IRS could not successfully
challenge this conclusion.
 
  JCPR expresses in the Pooling and Servicing Agreement its intent that for
federal, state and local income or franchise tax purposes, the Certificates
will be indebtedness secured by the Receivables. JCPR agrees and each
Certificateholder and Certificate Owner, by acquiring an interest in a
Certificate, agrees or will be deemed to agree to treat the Certificates of
such Series as indebtedness for federal, state and local income or franchise
tax purposes.
 
  In general, the determination of whether for federal income tax purposes a
transaction constitutes a sale of property or a loan, the repayment of which
is secured by the property, is based upon the economic substance of the
transaction rather than its form or the manner in which it is labeled.
Although the IRS and the courts have set forth several factors to be taken
into account in determining whether the substance of a transaction is a sale
of property or a secured indebtedness for federal income tax purposes, the
primary factor in making this determination is whether the transferee has
assumed the risk of loss or other economic burdens relating to the property
and has obtained the benefits of ownership thereof. As set forth in its
opinion, Special Tax Counsel will analyze and rely on several factors in
reaching its opinion that the weight of the benefits and burdens of ownership
of the Receivables has not been transferred to the Certificate Owners.
 
  In some instances, courts have held that a taxpayer is bound by a particular
form it has chosen for a transaction, even if the substance of the transaction
does not accord with its form. Special Tax Counsel will advise that the
rationale of those cases will not apply to the transaction evidenced by a
Series of Certificates, because the form of the transaction, as reflected in
the operative provisions of the documents, either is not inconsistent with the
characterization of the Certificates of such Series as debt for federal income
tax purposes or otherwise makes the rationale of those cases inapplicable to
this situation.
 
TAXATION OF INTEREST INCOME OF CERTIFICATEHOLDERS
 
  As set forth above, Special Tax Counsel will advise JCPR that the
Certificates will constitute indebtedness for federal income tax purposes, and
accordingly, interest thereon will be includible in income by Certificate
Owners as ordinary income when received (in the case of a cash basis taxpayer)
or accrued (in the case of an accrual basis taxpayer) in accordance with their
respective methods of tax accounting. Interest received on the Certificates
may also constitute "investment income" for purposes of certain limitations of
the Code concerning the deductibility of investment interest expense.
 
  While it is not anticipated that the Certificates will be issued at a
greater than de minimus discount, under applicable Treasury regulations (the
"Regulations") the Certificates may nevertheless be deemed to have been issued
with original issue discount ("OID"). This could be the case, for example, if
interest payments are not treated as "qualified stated interest" because the
IRS determines that (i) no reasonable legal remedies exist to compel timely
payment and (ii) the Certificates do not have terms and conditions that make
the likelihood of late payment (other than a late payment that occurs within a
reasonable grace period) or nonpayment a remote contingency. Applicable
regulations provide that, for purposes of the foregoing test, the possibility
of nonpayment due to default, insolvency, or similar circumstances, is
ignored. Although this provision does not directly apply to the Certificates
(because they have no actual default provisions), JCPR intends to take the
position that, because nonpayment can occur only as a result of events beyond
its control (principally, loss rates and payment delays on the Receivables
substantially in excess of those anticipated), nonpayment is a remote
contingency. Based on the foregoing, JCPR intends to take the position that
interest payments on the Certificates constitute qualified stated interest.
If, however, interest payments were not classified as "qualified stated
interest," all of the taxable income to be recognized with respect to the
Certificates would be includible in ordinary income as OID but would not be
includible again when the interest is actually received.
 
  If the Certificates are in fact issued at a greater than de minimus discount
or are treated as having been issued with OID under the Regulations, the
following rules will apply. The excess of the "stated redemption
 
                                      63
<PAGE>
 
price at maturity" of a Certificate over the original issue price (in this
case, the initial offering price at which a substantial amount of the
Certificates are sold to the public) will constitute OID. A Certificate Owner
must include OID in income as interest over the term of the Certificate under
a constant yield method. In general, OID must be included in ordinary income
in advance of the receipt of cash representing that income. In the case of a
debt instrument as to which the repayment of principal may be accelerated as a
result of the prepayment of other obligations securing the debt instrument (a
"Prepayable Instrument"), the periodic accrual of OID is determined by taking
into account both the prepayment assumptions used in pricing the debt
instrument and the prepayment experience. If this provision applies to a Class
of Certificates (which is not clear), the amount of OID which will accrue in
any given "accrual period" may either increase or decrease depending upon the
actual prepayment rate. Accordingly, each Certificate Owner should consult its
own tax advisor regarding the impact to it of the OID rules if the
Certificates are issued with OID. Under the Regulations, a holder of a
Certificate issued with de minimus OID must include such OID in ordinary
income proportionately as principal payments are made on a Class of
Certificates.
 
  A Certificate Owner who purchases a Certificate at a discount from its
adjusted issue price may be subject to the "market discount" rules of the
Code. These rules provide, in part, for the treatment of gain attributable to
accrued market discount as ordinary income upon the receipt of partial
principal payments or on the sale or other disposition of the Certificates,
and for the deferral of interest deductions with respect to debt incurred to
acquire or carry the market discount Certificate.
 
  A Certificate Owner who purchases a Certificate for an amount in excess of
the sum of all amounts payable on such Certificate after the purchase date
other than payment of qualified stated interest (the "Remaining Redemption
Amount") shall be considered to have purchased the Certificates at a premium.
Such Certificate Owner may generally elect to amortize such premium (as an
offset to interest income), using a constant yield method, over the remaining
term of the Certificate.
 
  A subsequent Certificate Owner who purchases a Certificate that was issued
with OID for an amount less than or equal to the Remaining Redemption Amount
but in excess of the Certificate adjusted issue price (any such excess being
"acquisition premium") generally is permitted to reduce the daily portion of
OID otherwise includible in such Certificate Owner's taxable income.
 
SALE OR OTHER DISPOSITION OF A CERTIFICATE
 
  In general, a Certificate Owner will recognize gain or loss upon the sale,
exchange, redemption, or other taxable disposition of a Certificate measured
by the difference between (i) the amount of cash and the fair market value of
any property received (other than amounts attributable to, and taxable as,
accrued interest) and (ii) the Certificate Owner's tax basis in the
Certificate (as increased by any OID or market discount previously included in
income by the holder and decreased by any deductions previously allowed for
amortizable bond premium and by any payments reflecting principal or OID
received with respect to such Certificate). Subject to the market discount
rules discussed above and to the one-year holding requirement for long-term
capital gain treatment, any such gain or loss generally will be long-term
capital gain; provided that the Certificates were held as capital assets; and
provided, further, that if the rules applicable to Prepayable Instruments
apply, any OID not previously accrued will be treated as ordinary income. The
maximum ordinary income tax rate for individuals, estates, and trusts exceeds
the maximum long-term capital gains rate for such taxpayers. In addition,
capital losses generally may be used only to offset capital gains.
 
TAX CHARACTERIZATION OF THE TRUST
 
  The Pooling and Servicing Agreement permits the issuance of Classes of
Certificates that are treated for federal income tax purposes either as
indebtedness or as an interest in a partnership. Accordingly, the Trust could
be characterized either as (i) a security device to hold Receivables securing
the repayment of the Certificates of all Series or (ii) a partnership in which
JCPR and certain classes of Certificateholders are partners, and which has
issued debt represented by the other Class or Classes of Certificates. In
connection with the issuance of
 
                                      64
<PAGE>
 
Certificates of any Series, Special Tax Counsel will render an opinion to
JCPR, based on the assumptions and qualifications set forth therein, that
under then current law, the issuance of the Certificates of such Series will
not cause the Trust to be characterized for federal income tax purposes as an
association (or publicly traded partnership) taxable as a corporation. The
assumptions and qualifications set forth in such opinion will include the
qualification that the opinion is limited to the issuance of the Certificates
of such Series by the Trust and an assumption that any secondary transactions
entered into with respect to any Class of Certificates (such as the deposit of
Certificates into a second trust and the issuance of securities out of that
trust) will not adversely affect the federal income tax status of the Trust.
 
  The opinion of Special Tax Counsel with respect to Certificates and the
Trust will not be binding on the courts or the IRS. It is possible that the
IRS could assert that, for purposes of the Code, the transaction contemplated
by this Prospectus constitutes a sale of the Receivables (or an interest
therein) to the Certificate Owners of one or more Series or Classes and that
the proper classification of the legal relationship between JCPR and some or
all of the Certificate Owners or Certificateholders of one or more Series
resulting from the transaction is that of a partnership (including a publicly
traded partnership), a publicly traded partnership taxable as a corporation,
or an association taxable as a corporation. JCPR currently does not intend to
comply with the federal income tax reporting requirements that would apply if
any Classes of Certificates were treated as interests in a partnership or
corporation.
 
  If the Trust were treated in whole or in part as a partnership in which some
or all Certificate Owners of one or more Series were partners, that
partnership could be classified as a publicly traded partnership taxable as a
corporation. A partnership will be classified as a publicly traded partnership
taxable as a corporation if equity interests therein are traded on an
"established securities market," or are "readily tradeable" on a "secondary
market" or its "substantial equivalent" unless certain exceptions apply. One
such exception would apply if the Trust is not engaged in a "financial
business" and 90% or more of its income consists of interest and certain other
types of passive income. Because Treasury regulations do not clarify the
meaning of a "financial business" for this purpose, it is unclear whether this
exception applies. JCPR has taken and intends to take measures designed to
reduce the risk that the Trust could be classified as a publicly traded
partnership taxable as a corporation by reason of trading of interests in the
Trust other than the Certificates and other certificates with respect to which
an opinion is rendered that such certificates constitute debt for federal
income tax purposes. However, there can be no assurance that the Trust could
not become a publicly traded partnership, because certain of the actions
necessary to comply with such exceptions are not fully within the control of
JCPR.
 
  If a transaction were treated as creating a partnership between JCPR and the
Certificate Owners or Certificateholders or one or more Series, the
partnership itself would not be subject to federal income tax (unless it were
to be characterized as a publicly traded partnership taxable as a
corporation); rather, the partners of such partnership, including the
Certificate Owners or Certificateholders of such Series, would be taxed
individually on their respective distributive shares of the partnership's
income, gain, loss, deductions and credits. The amount and timing of items of
income and deductions of a Certificate Owner could differ if the Certificates
were held to constitute partnership interests, rather than indebtedness.
Moreover, unless the partnership were treated as engaged in a trade or
business, an individual's share of expenses of the partnership would be
miscellaneous itemized deductions that, in the aggregate, are allowed as
deductions only to the extent they exceed two percent of the individual's
adjusted gross income, and would be subject to reduction under Section 68 of
the Code if the individual's adjusted gross income exceeded certain limits. As
a result, the individual might be taxed on a greater amount of income than the
stated rate on the Certificates. Finally, if the partnership were a publicly
traded partnership that qualifies for exemption from taxation as a
corporation, all or a portion of any taxable income allocated to a Certificate
Owner that is a pension, profit-sharing or employee benefit plan or other tax-
exempt entity (including an individual retirement account) may, under certain
circumstances, constitute "unrelated business taxable income" which generally
would be taxable to the holder under the Code. Partnership characterization
also may have adverse state and local income or franchise tax consequences for
a Certificate Owner.
 
                                      65
<PAGE>
 
  If it were determined that a transaction created an entity classified as an
association or as a publicly traded partnership taxable as a corporation, the
Trust would be subject to federal income tax at corporate income tax rates on
the income it derives from the Receivables, which would reduce the amounts
available for distribution to the Certificate Owners, possibly including
Certificate Owners of a Series or Class that is treated as indebtedness. Such
classification may also have adverse state and local tax consequences that
would reduce amounts available for distribution to Certificate Owners. Cash
distributions to the Certificate Owners (except any Series or Class not
recharacterized as an equity interest in an association) generally would be
treated as dividends for tax purposes to the extent of such deemed
corporation's earnings and profits.
 
RECENT LEGISLATION
 
  Certain provisions of the Code provide for the creation of a new type of
entity for federal income tax purposes, the "financial asset securitization
trust" ("FASIT"). However, although these provisions were effective September
1, 1997, many technical issues concerning FASITs must be addressed by Treasury
regulations which have not yet been issued. Although transition rules permit
an entity in existence on August 31, 1997, such as the Trust, to elect FASIT
status, at the present time it is not clear how outstanding interests of such
an entity would be treated subsequent to such an election. The Pooling and
Servicing Agreement may be amended in accordance with the provisions thereof
to provide that the Transferor may cause a FASIT election to be made for the
Trust if JCPR delivers to the Trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect
that, for federal income tax purposes, (i) the issuance of FASIT regular
interests will not adversely affect the tax characterization as debt of
Certificates of any outstanding Series or Class that were characterized as
debt at the time of their issuance, (ii) following such issuance the Trust
will not be deemed to be an association (or publicly traded partnership)
taxable as a corporation and (iii) such issuance will not cause or constitute
an event in which gain or loss would be recognized by any Certificateholder or
the Trust.
 
FOREIGN INVESTORS
 
  As set forth above, it is expected that Special Tax Counsel will render an
opinion, upon issuance, that the Certificates will be treated as debt for U.S.
federal income tax purposes. The following information describes the U.S.
federal income tax treatment of investors that are not U.S. persons ("Foreign
Investors") if the Certificates are treated as debt. The term "Foreign
Investor" means any person other than (i) a citizen or resident of the United
States, (ii) a corporation, partnership or other entity organized in or under
the laws of the United States or any political subdivision thereof, (iii) an
estate the income of which is includible in gross income for U.S. federal
income tax purposes, regardless of its source or (iv) a trust if a U.S. court
is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of such trust
and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all substantial
decisions of such trust.
 
  Interest, including OID, paid to a Foreign Investor will be subject to U.S.
withholding taxes at a rate of 30% unless (x) the income is "effectively
connected" with the conduct by such Foreign Investor of a trade or business in
the United States or (y) the Foreign Investor and each securities clearing
organization bank, or other financial institution that holds the Certificates
on behalf of the customer in the ordinary course of its trade or business, in
the chain between the Certificate Owner and the U.S. person otherwise required
to withhold the U.S. tax, complies with applicable identification requirements
and, in addition (i) the non-U.S. Certificate Owner does not actually or
constructively own 10 percent or more of the total combined voting power of
all classes of stock of JCPR entitled to vote (or of a profits or capital
interest of a trust characterized as a partnership), (ii) the non-U.S.
Certificate Owner is not a controlled foreign corporation that is related to
JCPR (or a trust treated as a partnership) through stock ownership, (iii) the
non-U.S. Certificate Owner is not a bank receiving interest described in Code
Section 881(c)(3)(A), (iv) such interest is not contingent interest described
in Code Sections 881(c)(4) and 871(h)(4) and (v) the non-U.S. Certificate
Owner does not bear certain relationships to any holder of the Exchangeable
Certificate other than JCPR or any holder of the Certificates of any Series
not properly characterized as debt. Applicable identification requirements
generally will be satisfied if there is delivered to a securities clearing
organization (i) IRS Form W-8 signed under penalties of perjury by the
Certificate Owner, stating that the Certificate Owner is not a U.S. person and
providing such Certificate Owner's name and address,
 
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<PAGE>
 
(ii) IRS Form 1001, signed by the Certificate Owner or such Certificate
Owner's agent, claiming exemption from withholding under an applicable tax
treaty, or (iii) IRS Form 4224 signed by the Certificate Owner or such owner's
agent, claiming exemption from withholding of tax on income effectively
connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States;
provided that in any such case (x) the applicable form is delivered pursuant
to applicable procedures and is properly transmitted to the United States
entity otherwise required to withhold tax and (y) none of the entities
receiving the form has actual knowledge that the Certificate Owner is a U.S.
person.
 
  On October 6, 1997, the Department of Treasury issued new regulations (the
"New Regulations") which make certain modifications to the withholding, backup
withholding and information reporting rules described above. The New
Regulations attempt to unify certification requirements and modify reliance
standards. The New Regulations will generally be effective for payments made
after December 31, 1999, subject to certain transition rules. Prospective
investors are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the New
Regulations.
 
  A Certificate Owner that is a nonresident alien or foreign corporation will
not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on gain realized upon the sale,
exchange, or redemption of a Certificate; provided that (i) such gain is not
effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United
States, (ii) in the case of a Certificate Owner that is an individual, such
Certificate Owner is not present in the United States for 183 days or more
during the taxable year in which such sale, exchange, or redemption occurs,
and (iii) in the case of gain representing accrued interest, the conditions
described in the second preceding paragraph are satisfied.
 
  If the interests of the Certificate Owner were reclassified as interests in
a partnership (not taxable as a corporation), such recharacterization could
cause a Foreign Investor to be treated as engaged in a trade or business in
the United States. In such event the Certificate Owner would be required to
file a federal income tax return and, in general, would be subject to federal
income tax, including branch profits tax in the case of a Certificateholder
that is a corporation, on its net income from the partnership. Further, the
partnership would be required, on a quarterly basis, to pay withholding tax
equal to the sum, for each foreign partner, of such foreign partner's
distributive share of "effectively connected" income of the partnership
multiplied by the highest rate of tax applicable to that foreign partner. The
tax withheld from each foreign partner would be credited against such foreign
partner's U.S. federal income tax liability.
 
  If the Trust were taxable as a corporation, distributions to foreign
persons, to the extent treated as dividends, would generally be subject to
withholding at the rate of 30%, unless such rate were reduced by an applicable
tax treaty.
 
                           STATE AND LOCAL TAXATION
 
  The discussion above does not address the tax treatment of the Trust, the
Certificates, or the Certificate Owners under state tax laws. Prospective
investors are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding state and
local tax treatment of the Trust and the Certificates, and the consequences of
purchase, ownership or disposition of the Certificates under any state or
local tax law.
 
                             ERISA CONSIDERATIONS
 
  Section 406 of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code prohibit a pension, profit
sharing or other employee benefit plan from engaging in certain transactions
involving "plan assets" with persons that are "parties in interest" under
ERISA or "disqualified persons" under the Code with respect to the plan. ERISA
also imposes certain duties on persons who are fiduciaries of plans subject to
ERISA and prohibits certain transactions between a plan and parties in
interest with respect to such plans. Under ERISA, any person who exercises any
discretionary authority or discretionary control respecting management of a
plan or exercises any authority or
 
                                      67
<PAGE>
 
control respecting the management or disposition of the assets of a plan is
considered to be a fiduciary of such plan (subject to certain exceptions not
here relevant). A violation of these "prohibited transaction" rules may
generate excise tax and other liabilities under ERISA and the Code for such
persons.
 
  Subject to the considerations set forth below, it is presently expected that
the Class A Certificates will be eligible for purchase by a Benefit Plan. It
is also currently expected that the Class B Certificates will not be eligible
for purchase by a Benefit Plan.
 
PLAN ASSETS ISSUES
 
  Plan fiduciaries must determine whether the acquisition and holding of the
Certificates and the operations of the Trust would result in direct or
indirect prohibited transactions if Benefit Plans that purchase the
Certificates are deemed to own an interest in the underlying assets of the
Trust. There may also be an improper delegation of the responsibility to
manage Benefit Plan assets if Benefit Plans that purchase the Certificates are
deemed to own an interest in the underlying assets of the Trust.
 
  Pursuant to a final regulation (the "Final Regulation") issued by the
Department of Labor ("DOL") concerning the definition of what constitutes the
"plan assets" of an employee benefit plan subject to ERISA or the Code, or an
individual retirement account ("IRA") (collectively referred to as "Benefit
Plans"), the assets and properties of certain entities in which a Benefit Plan
makes an equity investment could be deemed to be assets of the Benefit Plan in
certain circumstances. Accordingly, if Benefit Plans purchase Certificates,
the Trust could be deemed to hold plan assets unless one of the exceptions
under the Final Regulation is applicable to the Trust.
 
  The Final Regulation only applies to the purchase by a Benefit Plan of an
"equity interest" in an entity. Assuming that interests in Certificates are
equity interest, the Final Regulation contains an exception that provides that
if a Benefit Plan acquires a "publicly-offered security," the issuer of the
security is not deemed to hold plan assets. A publicly-offered security is a
security that is (i) freely transferrable, (ii) part of a class of securities
that is owned by 100 or more investors independent of the issuer and of one
another and (iii) is either (A) part of a class of securities registered under
Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act or (B) sold to the plan as part of
an offering of securities to the public pursuant to an effective registration
statement under the Securities Act and the class of securities of which such
security is a part is registered under the Exchange Act within 120 days (or
such later time as may be allowed by the Commission) after the end of the
fiscal year of the issuer during which the offering of such securities to the
public occurred. In addition, the Final Registration provides that if a
Benefit Plan invests in an "equity interest" of an entity that is neither a
"publicly-offered security" nor a security issued by an investment company
registered under the Investment Company Act, the Benefit Plan's assets include
both the equity interest and an undivided interest in each of the entity's
underlying assets, unless it is established that equity participation by
"benefit plan investors" is not "significant" or that another exception
applies.
 
  Under the Final Regulation, equity participation in an entity by "benefit
plan investors" is "significant" on any date if, immediately after the most
recent acquisition of any equity interest in the entity (other than a
publicly-offered class of equity), 25% or more of the value of any class of
equity interests in the entity (other than a publicly-offered class) is held
by "benefit plan investors." For purposes of this determination, the value of
equity interests held by a person (other than a benefit plan investor) that
has discretionary authority or control with respect to the assets of the
entity or that provides investment advice for a fee with respect to such
assets (or any affiliate of such person) is disregarded. The term "benefit
plan investor" is defined in the Final Regulation as (a) any employee benefit
plan (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA), whether or not it is subject to
the provisions of Title I of ERISA, (b) any plan described in Section
4975(e)(1) of the Code and (c) any entity whose underlying assets include plan
assets by reason of a plan's investment in the entity.
 
  It is anticipated that interests in the Class A Certificates will meet the
criteria of publicly-offered securities as set forth above. The underwriter
expects (although no assurances can be given) that interests in the Class A
Certificates offered hereby will be held by at least 100 independent investors
at the conclusion of the offering;
 
                                      68
<PAGE>
 
there are no restrictions imposed on the transfer of interests in the
Certificates; and interests in the Certificates will be sold as part of an
offering pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities
Act and then will be timely registered under the Exchange Act.
 
  If interests in the Certificates fail to meet the criteria of publicly-
offered securities or investment by benefit plan investors becomes significant
and the Trust's assets are deemed to include assets of Benefit Plans that are
Certificateholders, transactions involving the Trust and "parties in interest"
or "disqualified persons" with respect to such plans might be prohibited under
Section 406 of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code unless an exemption is
applicable. Thus, for example, if a participant in any Benefit Plan is a
cardholder of one of the Accounts, under DOL interpretations, the purchase of
interests in Certificates by such plan could constitute a prohibited
transaction. In addition, JCPR, JCPenney or the Underwriter may be considered
to be a party in interest, disqualified person or fiduciary with respect to an
investing Benefit Plan. Accordingly, an investment by a Benefit Plan in
Certificates may be a prohibited transaction under ERISA and the Code unless
such investment is subject to a statutory or administrative exemption. Five
class exemptions issued by the DOL that could apply in such event are DOL
Prohibited Transaction Exemption ("PTE") 84-14 (Class Exemption for Plan Asset
Transactions Determined by Independent Qualified Professional Asset Managers),
91-38 (Class Exemption for Certain Transaction Involving Bank Collective
Investment Funds), 90-1 (Class Exemption for Certain Transactions Involving
Insurance Company Pooled Separate Accounts), 95-60 (Class Exemption for
Certain Transactions Involving Insurance Company General Accounts) and 96-23
(Class Exemption for Plan Asset Transactions Determined by In-House Asset
Managers). There is no assurance that these exemptions, even if all of the
conditions specified therein are satisfied, or any other exemption will apply
to all transactions involving the Trust's assets.
 
  IN LIGHT OF THE FOREGOING, FIDUCIARIES OF A BENEFIT PLAN CONSIDERING THE
PURCHASE OF INTERESTS IN CERTIFICATES SHOULD CONSULT THEIR OWN COUNSEL AS TO
WHETHER THE ASSETS OF THE TRUST WHICH ARE REPRESENTED BY SUCH INTERESTS WOULD
BE CONSIDERED PLAN ASSETS, AND WHETHER, UNDER THE GENERAL FIDUCIARY STANDARDS
OF INVESTMENT PRUDENCE AND DIVERSIFICATION, AN INVESTMENT IN CERTIFICATES IS
APPROPRIATE FOR THE BENEFIT PLAN TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE OVERALL INVESTMENT
POLICY OF THE BENEFIT PLAN AND THE COMPOSITION OF THE BENEFIT PLAN'S
INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO. In addition, fiduciaries should consider the
consequences that would apply if the Trust's assets were considered plan
assets, the applicability of exemptive relief from the prohibited transaction
rules and whether all conditions for such exemptive relief would be satisfied.
 
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS APPLICABLE TO INSURANCE COMPANY GENERAL ACCOUNTS
 
  Insurance companies considering the purchase of Certificates should consult
their own employee benefits counsel or other appropriate counsel with respect
to the United States Supreme Court's decision in John Hancock Mutual Life
Insurance Co. v. Harris Trust & Savings Bank, 114 S. Ct. 517 (1993) ("John
Hancock") and the applicability of PTE 95-60. In John Hancock, the Supreme
Court held that assets held in an insurance company's general account may be
deemed to be "plan assets" under certain circumstances; however, PTE 95-60 may
exempt some or all of the transactions that could occur as the result of the
acquisition and holding of the Certificates by an insurance company general
account from the penalties normally associated with prohibited transactions.
Accordingly, investors should analyze whether John Hancock and PTE 95-60 or
any other exemption may have an impact with respect to their purchase of the
Certificates.
 
  In addition, insurance companies considering the purchase of Certificates
using assets of general accounts should consult their own employee benefits
counsel or other appropriate counsel with respect to the effect of the Small
Business Job Protection Act of 1996 which added a new Section 401(c) of ERISA
relating to the status of the assets of insurance company general accounts
under ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code. Pursuant to Section 401(c), the DOL
is required to issue final regulations (the "General Account Regulations")
with respect to insurance policies issued on or before December 31, 1998, that
are supported by an insurer's general account. The General Account Regulations
are intended to provide guidance on which assets held by the insurer
constitute
 
                                      69
<PAGE>
 
"plan assets" for purposes of the fiduciary responsibility provisions of ERISA
and Section 4975 of the Code. Section 401(c) also provides that, except in the
case of avoidance of the General Account Regulations and actions brought by
the Secretary of Labor relating to certain breaches of fiduciary duties that
also constitute breaches of state or Federal criminal law, until the date that
is 18 months after the General Account Regulations become final, no liability
under the fiduciary responsibility and prohibited transaction provisions of
ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code may result on the basis of a claim that the
assets of the general account of an insurance company constitute the plan
assets of any Benefit Plan. The DOL has recently issued proposed regulations
under Section 401(c). It should be noted that if the General Account
Regulations are adopted substantially in the form in which proposed, the
General Account Regulations may not exempt the assets of insurance company
general accounts from treatment as "plan assets" after December 31, 1998. The
plan asset status of insurance company separate accounts is unaffected by new
Section 401(c) of ERISA, and separate account assets continue to be treated as
the plan assets of any Benefit Plan invested in a separate account. Plan
investors considering the purchase of Certificates on behalf of an insurance
company general account should consult their legal advisors regarding the
effect of the General Account Regulations on such purchase.
 
                                 UNDERWRITING
 
  Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Underwriting Agreement,
JCPR has agreed to sell to Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation (the
"Underwriter"), and the Underwriter has agreed to purchase, the entire
principal amount of the Certificates.
 
  In the Underwriting Agreement, the Underwriter has agreed, subject to the
terms and conditions set forth therein, to purchase all the Certificates
offered hereby if any of the Certificates are purchased.
 
  The Underwriter may engage in over-allotment, stabilizing transactions,
syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids with respect to the
Certificates in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act. Over-
allotment transactions involve syndicate sales in excess of the offering size,
which create a syndicate short position. Stabilizing transactions permit bids
to purchase the Certificates so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a
specified maximum. Syndicate covering transactions involve purchases of the
Certificates in the open market after the distribution has been completed in
order to cover syndicate short positions. Penalty bids permit the Underwriter
to reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate member when the Certificates
originally sold by such syndicate member are purchased in a syndicate covering
transaction to cover syndicate short positions. Such over-allotment
transactions, stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions and
penalty bids may cause the price of the Certificates to be higher than they
would otherwise be in the absence of such transactions. Neither JCPR nor the
Underwriter represents that the Underwriter will engage in any such
transactions or that such transactions, once commenced, will not be
discontinued without notice at any time.
 
  JCPR has been advised by the Underwriter that it proposes initially to offer
the Class A Certificates to the public at the price set forth on the cover
page hereof and to certain dealers at such price less concessions not in
excess of  % of the principal amount of the Class A Certificates. The
Underwriter may allow, and such dealers may reallow, concessions not in excess
of  % of the principal amount of the Class A Certificates to certain brokers
and dealers. JCPR has been advised by the Underwriter that it proposes
initially to offer the Class B Certificates to the public at the price set
forth on the cover page hereof and to certain dealers at such price less
concessions not in excess of  % of the principal amount of the Class B
Certificates. The Underwriter may allow, and such dealers may reallow,
concessions not in excess of  % of the principal amount of the Class B
Certificates to certain brokers and dealers. After the initial public
offering, the public offering price and other selling terms may be changed by
the Underwriter.
 
  The Underwriting Agreement provides that JCPR will indemnify the Underwriter
against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act,
or contribute to payments the Underwriter may be required to make in respect
thereof.
 
                                      70
<PAGE>
 
  In the ordinary course of business, the Underwriter and its affiliates have
engaged and may engage in investment banking and/or commercial banking
transactions with JCPenney, JCPR and their respective affiliates. In addition,
the Underwriter may from time to time take positions in the Certificates and
other certificates issued by the Trust.
 
                                 LEGAL MATTERS
 
  Certain legal matters relating to the issuance of the Certificates will be
passed upon for JCPenney and JCPR by Charles R. Lotter, Executive Vice
President, Secretary and General Counsel of JCPenney. As of      , 1998, Mr.
Lotter owned     shares of Common Stock and Common Stock voting equivalents of
JCPenney, including shares credited to his account under the Company's Savings
and Profit Sharing Retirement Plan and Savings, Profit-Sharing and Stock
Ownership Plan. As of     , 1998 he had outstanding options to purchase
shares of Common Stock.
 
  In addition, certain legal matters relating to the Federal tax consequences
of the issuance of the Certificates will be passed upon by Skadden, Arps,
Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, New York, New York, Special Tax Counsel for
JCPenney and JCPR. Certain legal matters relating to the issuance of the
Certificates will be passed upon for the Underwriter by Skadden, Arps, Slate,
Meagher & Flom LLP, New York, New York.
 
                                      71
<PAGE>
 
                               INDEX OF KEY TERMS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            PAGE
TERM                                                                        NO.
- ----                                                                        ----
<S>                                                                         <C>
Accounts...................................................................
Addition Date..............................................................
Additional Accounts........................................................
Additional Interest........................................................
Amortization Period........................................................
Assigned Assets............................................................
Assumed Obligations........................................................
Assuming Entity............................................................
Available Investor Principal Collections...................................
Base Rate..................................................................
Benefit Plans..............................................................
Cardholder Monthly Payment Rate............................................
Cede.......................................................................
Cedel......................................................................
Cedel Participants.........................................................
Certificate Owners.........................................................
Certificate Rate...........................................................
Certificateholder..........................................................
Certificateholder Servicing Fee............................................
Certificates...............................................................
Class A Additional Interest................................................
Class A Available Funds....................................................
Class A Certificateholder..................................................
Class A Certificates.......................................................
Class A Certificate Rate...................................................
Class A Expected Final Distribution Date...................................
Class A Fixed Allocation...................................................
Class A Floating Allocation................................................
Class A Investor Charge-Off................................................
Class A Investor Default Amount............................................
Class A Investor Interest..................................................
Class A Monthly Interest...................................................
Class A Monthly Principal..................................................
Class A Required Amount....................................................
Class A Servicing Fee......................................................
Class B Additional Interest................................................
Class B Available Funds....................................................
Class B Certificateholder..................................................
Class B Certificates.......................................................
Class B Certificate Rate...................................................
Class B Expected Final Distribution Date...................................
Class B Fixed Allocation...................................................
Class B Floating Allocation................................................
Class B Investor Charge-Off................................................
Class B Investor Default Amount............................................
Class B Investor Interest..................................................
Class B Monthly Interest...................................................
</TABLE>
 
                                       72
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            PAGE
TERM                                                                        NO.
- ----                                                                        ----
<S>                                                                         <C>
Class B Monthly Principal..................................................
Class B Required Amount....................................................
Class B Servicing Fee......................................................
Class C Available Funds....................................................
Class C Fixed Allocation...................................................
Class C Floating Allocation................................................
Class C Interest Holder....................................................
Class C Investor Default Amount............................................
Class C Investor Interest..................................................
Class C Monthly Interest...................................................
Class C Monthly Principal..................................................
Class C Rate...............................................................
Class C Servicing Fee......................................................
Closing Date...............................................................
Code.......................................................................
Collection Account.........................................................
Collateral Charge-Off......................................................
Commission.................................................................
Controlled Amortization Amount.............................................
Controlled Amortization Period.............................................
Controlled Distribution Amount.............................................
Cooperative................................................................
Counsel....................................................................
Cut Off Date...............................................................
Cycles.....................................................................
Default Amount.............................................................
Defaulted Account..........................................................
Definitive Certificates....................................................
Deficit Controlled Amortization Amount.....................................
Depositaries...............................................................
Discount Percentage........................................................
Distribution Account.......................................................
Distribution Date..........................................................
DOL........................................................................
DTC........................................................................
Eligible Account...........................................................
Eligible Receivable........................................................
ERISA......................................................................
Euroclear..................................................................
Euroclear Operator.........................................................
Euroclear Participants.....................................................
Excess Finance Charge Collections..........................................
Excess Spread..............................................................
Exchange...................................................................
Exchange Act...............................................................
Exchange Date..............................................................
Exchange Notice............................................................
Exchangeable Certificate...................................................
Facility Fee...............................................................
FASIT......................................................................
</TABLE>
 
                                       73
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            PAGE
TERM                                                                        NO.
- ----                                                                        ----
<S>                                                                         <C>
FDIC.......................................................................
Final Regulation...........................................................
Finance Charge Account.....................................................
Finance Charge Receivables.................................................
FIRREA.....................................................................
Holders....................................................................
Indirect Participants......................................................
Ineligible Receivable......................................................
Interest Accrual Period....................................................
Investment Company Act.....................................................
Investor Amount............................................................
Investor Charge Off........................................................
Investor Default Amount....................................................
Investor Percentage........................................................
Investor Servicing Fee.....................................................
IRA........................................................................
IRS........................................................................
JCP Card Bank..............................................................
JCPenney...................................................................
JCPenney credit card accounts..............................................
JCPenney Portfolio.........................................................
JCPR.......................................................................
JCPR Amount................................................................
JCPR Percentage............................................................
Monthly Interest...........................................................
Monthly Period.............................................................
Moody's....................................................................
Net Recoveries.............................................................
Offered Certificates.......................................................
OID........................................................................
Original Accounts..........................................................
Participants...............................................................
Pay Out Event..............................................................
Pool Factor................................................................
Pooling and Servicing Agreement............................................
Portfolio Yield............................................................
Prepayable Instrument......................................................
Principal Account..........................................................
Principal Receivables......................................................
Principal Terms............................................................
PTE........................................................................
Qualified Institution......................................................
Rapid Amortization Period..................................................
Rating Agency Condition....................................................
Reallocated Class B Principal Collections..................................
Reallocated Class C Principal Collections..................................
Reallocated Principal Collections..........................................
Receivables................................................................
Receivables Purchase Agreement.............................................
Recoveries.................................................................
</TABLE>
 
                                       74
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            PAGE
TERM                                                                        NO.
- ----                                                                        ----
<S>                                                                         <C>
Regulations................................................................
Remaining Redemption Amount................................................
Removed Accounts...........................................................
Required Amount............................................................
Required Class C Investor Interest.........................................
Revolving Period...........................................................
RTC........................................................................
Rules......................................................................
Scheduled Termination Date.................................................
Securities Act.............................................................
Series.....................................................................
Series B Certificates......................................................
Series C Certificates......................................................
Servicer...................................................................
Servicer Default...........................................................
Servicing Fee Rate.........................................................
Series E...................................................................
Series E Certificates......................................................
Special Tax Counsel........................................................
Standard & Poor's..........................................................
Supplement.................................................................
Terms and Conditions.......................................................
Transfer Date..............................................................
Trust......................................................................
Trustee....................................................................
UCC........................................................................
Underwriter................................................................
</TABLE>
 
                                       75
<PAGE>
 
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 NO DEALER, SALESMAN OR OTHER PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY
INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATION NOT CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS
AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATION MUST NOT BE RELIED
UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY JCPENNEY, JCPR OR THE UNDERWRITER. THIS
PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER
TO BUY ANY OF THE SECURITIES OFFERED HEREBY IN ANY JURISDICTION TO ANY PERSON
TO WHOM IT IS UNLAWFUL TO MAKE SUCH OFFER IN SUCH JURISDICTION.
 
 NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS NOR ANY SALE MADE HEREUNDER SHALL,
UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE ANY IMPLICATION THAT THE INFORMATION HEREIN IS
CORRECT AS OF ANY TIME SUBSEQUENT TO THE DATE HEREOF OR THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO
CHANGE IN THE AFFAIRS OF JCPENNEY AND JCPR SINCE SUCH DATE.
 
                                  -----------
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                         <C>
Prospectus Summary.........................................................   3
Risk Factors...............................................................  15
JCPenney's Credit Card Business............................................  20
The Accounts...............................................................  23
JCPR, JCPenney and the Trust...............................................  26
Use of Proceeds............................................................  26
Maturity Assumptions.......................................................  27
Receivable Yield Considerations............................................  28
Description of the Certificates and the Pooling and Servicing Agreement....  29
Description of the Receivables Purchase Agreement..........................  58
Certain Legal Aspects of the Receivables...................................  61
Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences...............................  62
State and Local Taxation...................................................  67
ERISA Considerations.......................................................  67
Underwriting...............................................................  70
Legal Matters..............................................................  71
Index of Key Terms.........................................................  72
</TABLE>
 
                                  -----------
 
 UNTIL         , 1999, ALL DEALERS EFFECTING TRANSACTIONS IN THE CERTIFICATES,
WHETHER OR NOT PARTICIPATING IN THIS DISTRIBUTION, MAY BE REQUIRED TO DELIVER
A PROSPECTUS. THIS IS IN ADDITION TO THE OBLIGATION OF DEALERS TO DELIVER A
PROSPECTUS WHEN ACTING AS UNDERWRITERS AND WITH RESPECT TO THEIR UNSOLD
ALLOTMENTS OR SUBSCRIPTIONS.
 
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                  JCP MASTER
                               CREDIT CARD TRUST
 
                                    $
 
                              $        % Class A
                          Asset Backed Certificates,
                                   Series E
 
                              $        % Class B
                          Asset Backed Certificates,
                                   Series E
 
                             JCP RECEIVABLES, INC.
                                  Originator
 
                          J. C. PENNEY COMPANY, INC.
                                   Servicer
 
                                  PROSPECTUS
 
 
                          CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON
 
 
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
 
                                    PART II
                    INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
 
ITEM 13. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION
 
<TABLE>
   <S>                                                                  <C>
   Registration Fee.................................................... $590.00
   Printing and Engraving..............................................       *
   Trustee's Fee.......................................................       *
   Legal Fees and Expenses.............................................       *
   Blue Sky Fees and Expenses..........................................       *
   Accountants' Fees and Expenses......................................       *
   Rating Agency Fees..................................................       *
   Miscellaneous Fees..................................................       *
                                                                        -------
     Total............................................................. $     *
                                                                        =======
</TABLE>
  --------
  * To be filed by amendment.
 
ITEM 14. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
 
  As permitted by Section 102(b)(7) of the Delaware General Corporation Law,
JCPR's Certificate of Incorporation contains a limitation of liability
provision under which a director will not be personally liable to JCPR or its
stockholders for monetary damages resulting from breaches of his fiduciary
duty of care as a director, subject to certain limitations.
 
  The Bylaws of JCPR provide that JCPR shall indemnify an officer or director
to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law.
Section 145 thereof permits indemnification of an officer or director upon a
determination that such officer or director has met the applicable standard of
conduct. Under Section 145, such officer or director is required to have acted
in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed
to the best interests of JCPR and, with respect to any criminal action,
without reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. Section 145 does
not authorize indemnification, in actions brought by or in the right of a
corporation, against judgments, fines or amounts paid in settlement, nor does
it provide for indemnification of expenses incurred in the defense or
settlement of claims as to which a director or officer is adjudged to be
liable to JCPR unless specifically authorized by the Delaware Court of
Chancery or the court in which such action is brought.
 
  In addition, JCPenney has purchased directors' and officers' liability
insurance coverage for amounts which JCPR is required or permitted to pay as
indemnification of its directors and certain of its officers, and which
insures such directors and officers against certain liabilities which might by
incurred by them in such capacities and for which they are not entitled to
indemnification by JCPR.
 
  Furthermore, JCPR and JCPenney, as well as their directors and officers, may
be entitled to indemnification by any underwriters named in the Prospectus
against certain civil liabilities under the Securities Act under agreements
entered into among JCPR, JCPenney and such underwriters.
 
ITEM 15. RECENT SALES OF UNRESTRICTED SECURITIES
 
  None
 
ITEM 16. EXHIBITS
 
  (a) Exhibits
 
<TABLE>
   <C>  <S>
    1   --Form of Underwriting Agreement.*
    3.1 --Certificate of Incorporation of JCPR is incorporated by reference
         from Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-
         1 (File No. 33-22093).
</TABLE>
 
                                     II-1
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
   <C>     <S>
    3.1(a) --Amendment dated September 9, 1988 to Certificate of Incorporation
            of JCPR is incorporated by reference from Exhibit 3.1(a) to the
            Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 33-
            22093).
    3.2    --Bylaws of JCPR are incorporated by reference from Exhibit 3.2 to
            the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 33-
            22093).
    4.1    --Master Pooling and Servicing Agreement dated as of September 5,
            1988 is incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.1 to the
            Registrant's Form 8-K dated September 21, 1988 and filed with the
            Commission on October 6, 1988.
    4.1(a) --Amendment No. 1 to Master Pooling and Servicing Agreement dated as
            of October 15, 1997 is incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.1
            to the Registrant's Form 8-K dated October 15, 1997 and filed with
            the Commission on November 10, 1997.
    4.1(b) --Form of Series E Supplement to Master Pooling and Servicing
            Agreement.*
    4.2    --Form of Certificate (included in Exhibit 4.1).
    4.3    --Receivables Purchase Agreement dated as of September 5, 1988 is
            incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.3 to the Registrant's Form
            8-K dated September 21, 1988 and filed with the Commission on
            October 6, 1988.
    4.3(a) --Amendment No. 1 to Receivables Purchase Agreement dated as of
            October 15, 1997 is incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.2 to
            the Registrant's Form 8-K dated October 15, 1997 and filed with the
            Commission on November 10, 1997.
    5      --Opinion of Charles R. Lotter, Esq. with respect to legality.*
    8      --Opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, with respect
            to tax matters.*
   23.1    --Consent of Charles R. Lotter, Esq. (included in Exhibit 5).*
   23.2    --Consent of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP (included in
            Exhibit 8).*
   24      --Power of Attorney
</TABLE>
  --------
  * To be filed by amendment.
 
  (b) Financial Statement Schedules
 
  Not applicable.
 
ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS
 
  The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes as follows:
 
  (a) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of
the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the
Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the
Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless
in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether
such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act
and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
 
  (b) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of
1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of
this Registration Statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form
of prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b) (1) or (4) or
497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this
Registration Statement as of the time it was declared effective.
 
  (c) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of
1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall
be deemed to be a new Registration Statement relating to the securities
offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be
deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
 
 
                                     II-2
<PAGE>
 
                                   SIGNATURES
 
  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Plano, State of Texas,
on September 29, 1998.
 
                                          JCP RECEIVABLES, INC.
                                           As Originator of the Trust and as
                                           Registrant
 
                                                     /s/ C. A. Walther
                                          By: _________________________________
                                                       C. A. WALTHER
                                                         President
 
                                      II-3
<PAGE>
 
                                   SIGNATURES
 
  PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT HAS BEEN SIGNED BY THE FOLLOWING PERSONS IN THE CAPACITIES AND ON THE
DATES INDICATED.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
              SIGNATURE                          TITLE                   DATE
              ---------                          -----                   ----
 
<S>                                    <C>                        <C>
              M. S. Rich*              Chairman of the Board;     September 29, 1998
______________________________________  Director
              M. S. RICH
 
          /s/ C. A. Walther            President (principal       September 29, 1998
______________________________________  executive and financial
            C. A. WALTHER               officer); Director
 
           Annette Williams*           Secretary and Treasurer    September 29, 1998
______________________________________  (principal accounting
           ANNETTE WILLIAMS             officer)
 
              R. S. Funk*              Director                   September 29, 1998
______________________________________
              R. S. FUNK
 
          J. J. Occhiogrosso*          Director                   September 29, 1998
______________________________________
          J. J. OCCHIOGROSSO
 
            S. A. Saggese*             Director                   September 29, 1998
______________________________________
            S. A. SAGGESE
</TABLE>
 
*By: /s/ C. A. Walther
- ---------------------------------
  C. A. WALTHER, ATTORNEY IN FACT
 
                                      II-4
<PAGE>
 
                               INDEX TO EXHIBITS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 EXHIBIT
 NUMBER                                DESCRIPTION
 -------                               -----------
 <C>     <S>
  1      --Form of Underwriting Agreement.*
  3.1    --Certificate of Incorporation of JCPR is incorporated by reference
          from Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form
          S-1 (File No. 33-22093).
  3.1(a) --Amendment dated September 9, 1988 to Certificate of Incorporation of
          JCPR is incorporated by reference from Exhibit 3.1(a) to the
          Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 33-22093).
  3.2    --Bylaws of JCPR are incorporated by reference from Exhibit 3.2 to the
          Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 33-22093).
  4.1    --Master Pooling and Servicing Agreement dated as of September 5, 1988
          is incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant's
          Form 8-K dated September 21, 1988 and filed with the Commission on
          October 6, 1988.
  4.1(a) --Amendment No. 1 to Master Pooling and Servicing Agreement dated as
          of October 15, 1997 is incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.1 to
          the Registrant's Form 8-K dated October 15, 1997 and filed with the
          Commission on November 10, 1997.
  4.1(b) --Form of Series E Supplement to Master Pooling and Servicing
          Agreement.*
  4.2    --Form of Certificate (included in Exhibit 4.1).
  4.3    --Receivables Purchase Agreement dated as of September 5, 1988 is
          incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.3 to the Registrant's Form
          8-K dated September 21, 1988 and filed with the Commission on October
          6, 1988.
  4.3(a) --Amendment No. 1 to Receivables Purchase Agreement dated as of
          October 15, 1997 is incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.2 to the
          Registrant's Form 8-K dated October 15, 1997 and filed with the
          Commission on November 10, 1997.
  5      --Opinion of Charles R. Lotter, Esq. with respect to legality.*
  8      --Opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, with respect to
          tax matters.*
 23.1    --Consent of Charles R. Lotter, Esq. (included in Exhibit 5).*
 23.2    --Consent of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP (included in
          Exhibit 8).*
 24      --Power of Attorney
</TABLE>
- --------
* To be filed by amendment.

<PAGE>
 
                                                                      EXHIBIT 24


                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
                               -----------------


     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS THAT each of the undersigned directors and
officers of JCP RECEIVABLES, INC., a Delaware corporation ("Corporation"), which
will file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D. C.
("Commission"), under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
a Registration Statement on Form S-1 (or any appropriate form then in effect)
for the registration of the Corporation's asset-backed certificates, Series E,
hereby constitutes and appoints M. S. Rich and C. A. Walther, and each of them,
his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power to each
of them to act without the others, for him or her and in his or her name, place,
and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign said Registration Statement and
any and all subsequent amendments thereto (including, without limitation, any
and all post-effective amendments thereto ("Registration Statement")), and to
file said Registration Statement so signed, with all exhibits thereto, and any
and all documents in connection therewith, and to appear before the Commission
in connection with any matter relating to said Registration Statement, hereby
granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power
and authority to do and perform any and all acts and things requisite and
necessary to be done in and about the premises as fully and to all intents and
purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Power of Attorney as
of the 25th day of September, 1998.


/s/ M. S. Rich                           /s/ C. A. Walther
- ---------------------------              --------------------------------
M. S. Rich                               C. A. Walther
Chairman of the Board;                   President (principal executive 
Director                                 and financial officer); Director



/s/ Annette Williams                     /s/ S. A. Saggese
- ---------------------------              --------------------------------
Annette Williams                         S. A. Saggese
Secretary and Treasurer (principal       Director
accounting officer)



/s/ R. S. Funk                           /s/ J. J. Occhiogrosso
- ---------------------------              --------------------------------
R. S. Funk                               J. J. Occhiogrosso
Director                                 Director


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