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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549


Form 8-K

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

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): September 27, 2002

GUESS?, INC.
(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation)
  001-11893
(Commission File Number)
  95-3679695
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)

1444 S. Alameda Street
Los Angeles, California 90021
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

(213) 765-3100
(Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

NA
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)





ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS

        On September 27, 2002, Guess?, Inc. (the "Company") and two of its subsidiaries, Guess? Retail, Inc. and Guess.com, Inc., entered into a new credit facility led by Wachovia Securities, Inc., as Arranger and Administrative Agent ("New Facility"), which replaces a previous credit agreement. The term of the New Facility is for a period of four years and provides for a maximum line of credit of $85 million, including a $47.5 million sub-limit for letters of credit. Borrowings available under the New Facility are subject to a borrowing base and outstanding borrowings are secured by inventory, accounts receivable and substantially all other personal property of the borrowers. For borrowings under the New Facility, the Company may elect an interest rate based on either the Prime Rate or a Eurodollar rate plus a margin, which fluctuates depending on availability under the New Facility and the Company's financial performance as measured by a cash flow test. This margin ranges from 0 to 75 basis points for Prime Rate loans and from 175 to 250 basis points for Eurodollar rate loans. Commitment fees for unused borrowings up to $60 million under the New Facility are 37.5 basis points. The New Facility requires the Company to maintain a minimum tangible net worth if excess availability under the New Facility is less that $20 million.

        Reference is made to the press release of Registrant issued on October 2, 2002, which contains information meeting the requirements of this Item 5 and is incorporated herein by this reference. A copy of the press release is attached to this Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1.


ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

 
   
   
    (c)   EXHIBITS

 

 

10.1

 

Loan and Security Agreement by and Among Congress Financial Corporation (Western) as Lender and Wachovia Securities, Inc., as the Arranger and Administrative Agent and Guess?, Inc., Guess? Retail, Inc. and Guess.com, Inc., as borrowers, dated as of September 27, 2002.

 

 

99.1

 

Press release issued October 2, 2002.

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SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this Current Report on Form 8-K to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

    GUESS?, INC.
         
Dated: October 10, 2002   By:   /s/  RALPH W. FLICK      
Ralph W. Flick
Assistant Secretary

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EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.
  Description of Exhibit
10.1   Loan and Security Agreement by and Among Congress Financial Corporation (Western) as Lender and Wachovia Securities, Inc., as the Arranger and Administrative Agent and Guess?, Inc., Guess? Retail, Inc. and Guess.com, Inc., as borrowers, dated as of September 27, 2002.

99.1

 

Press release issued October 2, 2002.

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Form 8-K
SIGNATURES
EXHIBIT INDEX

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EXHIBIT 10.1

LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT

by and among

CONGRESS FINANCIAL CORPORATION (WESTERN)

as Lender

and

WACHOVIA SECURITIES, INC.

as the Arranger and Administrative Agent

and

GUESS ?, INC.,

GUESS? RETAIL, INC.

and

GUESS.COM, INC.

as Borrowers

Dated: September 27, 2002



TABLE OF CONTENTS

 
 
  Page
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS   1

SECTION 2.

CREDIT FACILITIES

 

19
 
2.1

Loans

 

19
 
2.2

Letter of Credit Accommodations

 

19

SECTION 3.

INTEREST AND FEES

 

22
 
3.1

Interest

 

22
 
3.2

Closing Fee

 

24
 
3.3

Servicing Fee

 

24
 
3.4

Unused Line Fee

 

24
 
3.5

Changes in Laws and Increased Costs of Loans

 

24

SECTION 4.

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

 

25
 
4.1

Conditions Precedent to Initial Loans and Letter of Credit Accommodations

 

25
 
4.2

Conditions Precedent to All Loans and Letter of Credit Accommodations

 

26
 
4.3

Conditions Subsequent

 

27

SECTION 5.

GRANT AND PERFECTION OF SECURITY INTEREST

 

27
 
5.1

Grant of Security Interest

 

27
 
5.2

Perfection of Security Interests

 

28
 
5.3

Release of Security Interest in Connection with Securitization

 

31

SECTION 6.

COLLECTION AND ADMINISTRATION

 

32
 
6.1

Borrowers' Loan Account

 

32
 
6.2

Statements

 

32
 
6.3

Collection of Accounts

 

32
 
6.4

Payments

 

33
 
6.5

Authorization to Make Loans

 

34
 
6.6

Use of Proceeds

 

34

SECTION 7.

COLLATERAL REPORTING AND COLLATERAL COVENANTS

 

35
 
7.1

Collateral Reporting

 

35
 
7.2

Accounts Covenants

 

35
 
7.3

Inventory Covenants

 

36
 
7.4

Equipment Covenants

 

36
 
7.5

Power of Attorney

 

37
 
7.6

Right to Cure

 

37
 
7.7

Access to Premises

 

38

 

 

 

 

i



SECTION 8.

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

38
 
8.1

Corporate Existence; Power and Authority

 

38
 
8.2

Name; State of Organization; Chief Executive Office; Collateral Locations

 

38
 
8.3

Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Change

 

39
 
8.4

Priority of Liens; Title to Properties

 

39
 
8.5

Tax Returns

 

39
 
8.6

Litigation

 

39
 
8.7

Compliance with Other Agreements and Applicable Laws

 

39
 
8.8

Environmental Compliance

 

40
 
8.9

Employee Benefits

 

40
 
8.10

Intellectual Property

 

41
 
8.11

Subsidiaries; Affiliates; Capitalization; Solvency

 

41
 
8.12

Labor Disputes

 

42
 
8.13

Restrictions on Subsidiaries

 

42
 
8.14

Material Contracts

 

42
 
8.15

Payable Practices

 

42
 
8.16

Accuracy and Completeness of Information

 

42
 
8.17

Survival of Warranties; Cumulative

 

42

SECTION 9.

AFFIRMATIVE AND NEGATIVE COVENANTS

 

42
 
9.1

Maintenance of Existence

 

42
 
9.2

New Collateral Locations

 

43
 
9.3

Compliance with Laws, Regulations, Etc

 

43
 
9.4

Payment of Taxes and Claims

 

44
 
9.5

Insurance

 

44
 
9.6

Financial Statements and Other Information

 

45
 
9.7

Sale of Assets, Consolidation, Merger, Dissolution, Etc

 

46
 
9.8

Encumbrances

 

47
 
9.9

Indebtedness

 

48
 
9.10

Loans, Investments, Etc

 

50
 
9.11

Dividends and Redemptions

 

51
 
9.12

Further Restriction on Loans, Investments, Dividends and Redemptions

 

52
 
9.13

Transactions with Affiliates

 

52
 
9.14

Compliance with ERISA

 

52
 
9.15

End of Fiscal Years, Fiscal Quarters

 

52

 

 

 

 

ii


 
9.16

Change in Business

 

53
 
9.17

Limitation of Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries

 

53
 
9.18

Net Worth

 

53
 
9.19

License Agreements

 

53
 
9.20

Costs and Expenses

 

54
 
9.21

Further Assurances

 

55

SECTION 10.

EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

 

55
 
10.1

Events of Default

 

55
 
10.2

Remedies

 

57

SECTION 11.

JURY TRIAL WAIVER; OTHER WAIVERS AND CONSENTS; GOVERNING LAW

 

59
 
11.1

Governing Law; Choice of Forum; Service of Process; Jury Trial Waiver

 

59
 
11.2

Waiver of Notices

 

61
 
11.3

Amendments and Waivers

 

61
 
11.4

Waiver of Counterclaims

 

61
 
11.5

Indemnification

 

61

SECTION 12.

TERM OF AGREEMENT; MISCELLANEOUS

 

61
 
12.1

Term

 

61
 
12.2

Interpretive Provisions

 

63
 
12.3

Notices

 

64
 
12.4

Partial Invalidity

 

64
 
12.5

Successors

 

64
 
12.6

Entire Agreement

 

64
 
12.7

Counterparts, Etc

 

64
 
12.8

Confidentiality

 

65

SECTION 13.

JOINT AND SEVERAL LIABILITY AND SURETYSHIP WAIVERS

 

65
 
13.1

Independent Obligations; Subrogation

 

65
 
13.2

Authority to Modify Obligations and Security

 

65
 
13.3

Waiver of Defenses

 

66
 
13.4

Exercise of Lender's Rights

 

66
 
13.5

Additional Waivers

 

66
 
13.6

Additional Indebtedness

 

66
 
13.7

Subordination

 

67
 
13.8

Revival

 

67
 
13.9

Understanding of Waivers

 

67

iii



INDEX TO
EXHIBITS AND SCHEDULES

  Exhibit A     Information Certificate


 

Exhibit B

 


 

Compliance Certificate


 

Schedule 4.1

 


 

Permitted Locations, etc.


 

Schedule 5.2(b)

 


 

Chattel Paper and Instruments


 

Schedule 5.2(f)

 


 

Letters of Credit, etc.


 

Schedule 5.2(g)

 


 

Commercial Tort Claims


 

Schedule 8.4

 


 

Liens


 

Schedule 8.8

 


 

Environmental Disclosures


 

Schedule 8.10

 


 

Intellectual Property


 

Schedule 8.12

 


 

Labor Relations


 

Schedule 8.14

 


 

Material Contracts


 

Schedule 9.9

 


 

Indebtedness


 

Schedule 9.10

 


 

Loans and Advances


LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT

        This Loan and Security Agreement dated September 27, 2002 is entered into by and among CONGRESS FINANCIAL CORPORATION (WESTERN), a California corporation ("Lender"), WACHOVIA SECURITIES, INC., a Delaware corporation (as the "Arranger and Administrative Agent"), and GUESS ?, INC., a Delaware corporation, GUESS? RETAIL, INC., a Delaware corporation, and GUESS.COM, INC., a Delaware corporation, jointly and severally as co-borrowers (each a "Borrower" and collectively, the "Borrowers").

W I T N E S S E T H:

        WHEREAS, Guess ?, Inc. owns all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of the other Borrowers; and

        WHEREAS, Borrowers operate as an integrated business unit with common product lines and the financial success of each of them is dependent upon the financial success of each other; and

        WHEREAS, Guess ?, Inc. receives essentially all of the payments made on account of the income of all of the Borrowers, and pays all of the expenses of the Borrowers; and

        WHEREAS, all of the administrative and accounting functions of all of the Borrowers are consolidated and performed at their chief executive office; and

        WHEREAS, it would be impractical and uneconomical for Borrowers to change their operations and their administrative and accounting functions so as to act as separate and distinct enterprises; and

        WHEREAS, Borrowers have requested that Lender enter into certain financing arrangements with Borrowers as an integrated business unit pursuant to which Lender may make loans and provide other financial accommodations to Borrowers as an integrated business unit; and

        WHEREAS, Lender is willing to make such loans and provide such financial accommodations on the terms and conditions set forth herein;

        NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual conditions and agreements set forth herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

        SECTION 1.    DEFINITIONS

        For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the respective meanings given to them below:

        1.1    "Accounts"    shall mean all present and future rights of Borrowers to payment of a monetary obligation, whether or not earned by performance, which is not evidenced by chattel paper or an instrument, (a) for property that has been or is to be sold, leased, assigned, or otherwise disposed of, (b) for services rendered or to be rendered, (c) for a secondary obligation incurred or to be incurred, or (d) arising out of the use of a credit, charge or debit card along with all information contained on or for use with such card.

        1.2    "Adjusted Eurodollar Rate"    shall mean, with respect to each Interest Period for any Eurodollar Rate Loan, the rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next one-sixteenth (1/16) of one percent (1%)) determined by dividing (a) the Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period by (b) a percentage equal to: (i) one (1) minus (ii) the Reserve Percentage. For purposes hereof, "Reserve Percentage" shall mean the reserve percentage, expressed as a decimal, prescribed by any United States or foreign banking authority for determining the reserve requirement which is or would be applicable to deposits of United States dollars in a non-United States or an international banking office of Reference Bank used to fund a Eurodollar Rate Loan or any Eurodollar Rate Loan made with the proceeds of such deposit, whether or not the Reference Bank actually holds or has made any such deposits or loans. The Adjusted Eurodollar Rate shall be adjusted on and as of the effective day of any change in the Reserve Percentage.



        1.3    "Adjusted Tangible Net Worth"    shall mean as to any Person, at any time, in accordance with GAAP (except as otherwise specifically set forth below), on a consolidated basis for such Person and its Subsidiaries (if any), the amount equal to the difference between: (a) the aggregate net book value of all assets of such Person and its Subsidiaries (excluding the value of patents, trademarks, tradenames, copyrights, licenses, goodwill, prepaid assets and other intangible assets), calculating the book value of inventory for this purpose on a first-in-first-out basis, after deducting from such book values all appropriate reserves in accordance with GAAP (including all reserves for doubtful receivables, obsolescence, depreciation and amortization) and (b) the aggregate amount of the Indebtedness and other liabilities of such Person and its Subsidiaries (including tax and other proper accruals).

        1.4    "Affiliate"    shall mean, with respect to a specified Person, any other Person which directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with such Person, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, includes (a) any Person which beneficially owns or holds five percent (5%) or more of any class of Voting Stock of such Person or other equity interests in such Person, (b) any Person of which such Person beneficially owns or holds five percent (5%) or more of any class of Voting Stock or in which such Person beneficially owns or holds five percent (5%) or more of the equity interests and (c) any director or executive officer of such Person. For purposes of this definition, the term "control" (including, with correlative meanings, the terms "controlled by" and "under common control with"), as used with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of Voting Stock, by agreement or otherwise.

        1.5    "Availability Compliance Period"    shall mean the period of time beginning upon an Availability Triggering Event or a Compliance Triggering Event, as applicable from time to time under this Agreement, and continuing through the Availability Compliance Reinstatement Date.

        1.6    "Availability Compliance Reinstatement Date"    shall mean the 180th consecutive day on which the sum of (i) the Excess Availability or Compliance Excess Availability, as applicable from time to time under this Agreement, plus (ii) the amount, converted to Dollars, resulting from the corresponding calculation under the Canadian Facility is equal to at least Twenty Million Dollars ($20,000,000).

        1.7    "Availability Compliance Report"    shall mean a compliance report delivered by Borrowers to Lender on a monthly basis during the Availability Compliance Period, in form and substance satisfactory to Lender.

        1.8    "Availability Triggering Event"    shall mean the occurrence of any event or events or the existence of any circumstance or circumstances that cause the sum of (i) the Excess Availability under this Agreement, plus (ii) the amount, converted to Dollars, resulting from the corresponding calculation under the Canadian Facility to be less than Twenty Million Dollars ($20,000,000).

        1.9    "Average Excess Availability"    shall mean the average daily amount, as determined by Lender, for the immediately preceding fiscal quarter, equal to: (a) the Borrowing Base, plus (b) Borrowers' unrestricted cash and/or Cash Equivalents that are on deposit in a securities or deposit account subject to a control agreement, in form and substance satisfactory to Lender, minus (c) the book overdraft of Borrower, minus (d) the amount of all then outstanding and unpaid Obligations.

        1.10    "Blocked Accounts"    shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.3 hereof.

        1.11    "Borrowing Base"    shall mean, at any time, the amount equal to: (a) eighty-five percent (85%) of the Net Amount of Eligible Accounts, plus (b) the lowest of: (i) the sum of (A) sixty-five percent (65%) (or seventy-two percent (72%) for the period from August 1 to October 31 of each year) of the Value of Eligible Inventory consisting of finished goods plus (B) fifty percent (50%) (or forty percent (40%) for the period commencing on the date hereof and continuing until the first

2



anniversary thereof) of the Value of Eligible Inventory consisting of raw materials for such finished goods, up to a maximum amount of Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000) or (ii) eighty-five percent (85%) of the Net Recovery Value expressed as a percentage of cost of the Value of Eligible Inventory as reflected on the most recent appraisal of the Inventory received and accepted by Lender prior to the date of the calculation, or (iii) the Inventory Sublimit minus the Canadian Inventory Sublimit, less (c) the Gift Certificate and Store Credit Reserve, less (d) any Reserves. For purposes of calculating the Borrowing Base, the amount of Eligible Inventory located in Canada shall not exceed 10% of all the Eligible Inventory. For purposes only of applying the sublimit on Loans based on Eligible Inventory set forth in clause (b)(iii) above, Lender may treat the then undrawn amounts of outstanding Letter of Credit Accommodations for the purpose of purchasing Eligible Inventory as Loans to the extent Lender is in effect basing the issuance of the Letter of Credit Accommodations on the Value of the Eligible Inventory being purchased with such Letter of Credit Accommodations.

        1.12    "Business Day"    shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday, or other day on which commercial banks are authorized or required to close under the laws of the State of California or the State of North Carolina, and a day on which the Reference Bank and Lender are open for the transaction of business, except that if a determination of a Business Day shall relate to any Eurodollar Rate Loans, the term Business Day shall also exclude any day on which banks are closed for dealings in dollar deposits in the London interbank market or other applicable Eurodollar Rate market.

        1.13    "Canadian Borrowers"    shall mean Guess? Canada Corporation and Guess? Canada Retail, Inc.

        1.14    "Canadian Facility"    shall mean a revolving line of credit to be entered into by the Canadian Borrowers which shall not permit overadvances in excess of the Canadian Permitted Overadvance and shall otherwise be on terms and conditions and with lenders satisfactory to Lender, as such facility may be amended or replaced from time to time.

        1.15    "Canadian Guarantee"    shall mean a guarantee by the Borrowers of any amounts borrowed by the Canadian Borrowers under the Canadian Facility; provided that (i) such guarantee is made on terms and conditions satisfactory to the Lender and (ii) the rights of the lenders under the Canadian Facility with respect to such guarantee are subordinated to the rights of Lender under this Agreement on terms and conditions satisfactory to Lender pursuant to an intercreditor agreement between the Arranger and Administrative Agent, Lender and the Canadian lenders.

        1.16    "Canadian Inventory Sublimit"    shall mean the U. S. Dollar equivalent of the maximum amount that may be borrowed by the Canadian Borrowers under the Canadian Facility against Inventory of the Canadian Borrowers, without regard to limitations imposed by any borrowing base formulas.

        1.17    "Canadian Maximum Credit"    shall mean the U. S. Dollar equivalent of the maximum amount that may be borrowed by the Canadian Borrowers under the Canadian Facility without regard to limitations imposed by any borrowing base formulas or borrowing sublimits. The Canadian Maximum Credit shall be Fifteen Million Dollars ($15,000,000); provided that the Canadian Borrowers will be permitted upon thirty (30) days prior written notice to Lender to increase or decrease the Canadian Maximum Credit one time per year beginning on October 1, 2003, effective on October 1 of each year and only in increments of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000); provided further that the aggregate effect of all such elections may not increase the Canadian Maximum Credit above Twenty Million Dollars ($20,000,000) or decrease it below Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000).

        1.18    "Canadian Permitted Overadvance"    shall mean the amount, expressed in Dollars, borrowed by the Canadian Borrowers under the Canadian Facility in excess of the amount otherwise permitted to be borrowed based on the borrowing base formulas in the Canadian Facility, up to a maximum of Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000), provided that the amount of such Canadian Permitted Overadvance may

3



be changed only one time per calendar quarter on the first Business Day following the end of each quarter, only in increments of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000), and only upon three (3) Business Days' prior written notice to Lender.

        1.19    "Canadian Permitted Overadvance Reserve"    shall mean a Reserve equal to the amount of the Canadian Permitted Overadvance.

        1.20    "Capital Leases"    shall mean, as applied to any Person, any lease of (or any agreement conveying the right to use) any property (whether real, personal or mixed) by such Person as lessee which in accordance with GAAP, is required to be reflected as a liability on the balance sheet of such Person.

        1.21    "Capital Stock"    shall mean, with respect to any Person, any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of such Person's capital stock, partnership interests or limited liability company interests at any time outstanding, and any and all rights, warrants or options exchangeable for or convertible into such capital stock or other interests (but excluding any debt security that is exchangeable for or convertible into such capital stock).

        1.22    "Cash Equivalents"    shall mean, at any time, (a) any evidence of Indebtedness with a maturity date of ninety (90) days or less issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States of America of any agency or instrumentality thereof; provided, that the full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged in support thereof; (b) certificates of deposit or bankers' acceptances with a maturity of ninety (90) days or less of any financial institution that is a member of the Federal Reserve System having combined capital and surplus and undivided profits of not less than Two Hundred Fifty Million Dollars ($250,000,000); (c) commercial paper (including variable rate demand notes) with a maturity of ninety (90) days or less issued by a corporation (except an Affiliate of any Borrower) organized under the laws of any State of the United States of America or the District of Columbia and rated at least A-1 by Standard & Poor's Ratings Service, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. or at least P-1 by Moody's Investors Service, Inc.; (d) repurchase obligations with a term of not more than thirty (30) days for underlying securities of the types described in clause (a) above entered into with any financial institution having combined capital and surplus and undivided profits of not less than Two Hundred Fifty Million Dollars ($250,000,000); (e) repurchase agreements and reverse repurchase agreements relating to marketable direct obligations issued or unconditionally guaranteed by the United States of America or issued by any governmental agency thereof and backed by the full faith and credit to the United States of America, in each case maturing within ninety (90) days or less from the date of acquisition; provided, that the terms of such agreements comply with the guidelines set forth in the Federal Financial Agreements of Depository Institutions with Securities Dealers and Others, as adopted by the Comptroller of the Currency on October 31, 1985; and (f) investments in money market funds and mutual funds which invest substantially all of their assets in securities of the types described in clauses (a) through (e) above.

        1.23    "Central Collection Deposit Account"    shall mean any deposit account established by any Borrower that is used by Borrowers to receive deposits from local retail store deposit accounts or from sales of Inventory or other proceeds of Collateral arising from transactions other than sales at local retail stores.

        1.24    "Change of Control"    shall mean (a) the transfer (in one transaction or a series of transactions) of all or substantially all of the assets of any Borrower to any Person or group (as such term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act); (b) the liquidation or dissolution of any Borrower or the adoption of a plan by the stockholders of such Borrower relating to the dissolution or liquidation of such Borrower; (c) with respect to Parent, the acquisition by any Person or group (as such term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), except for one or more Permitted Holders, of beneficial ownership, directly or indirectly, of fifty percent (50%) or more of the voting power of the total outstanding Voting Stock or the Board of Directors and with respect to the other Borrowers, the

4



acquisition by any Person other than Parent of any outstanding Voting Stock of any such Borrower; (d) with respect to Parent, during any period of two (2) consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period constituted the Board of Directors (together with any new directors who have been appointed by any Permitted Holder, or whose nomination for election by the stockholders of Parent, as the case may be, was approved by a vote of at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (662/3%) of the directors then still in office who were either directors at the beginning of such period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved) cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the Board of Directors then still in office, or in the case of the other Borrowers any director shall be elected or appointed to the Board of Directors by any Person other than Parent; or (e) the failure of the Permitted Holders to hold at least fifty one percent (51%) of the voting power of the total outstanding Voting Stock of Parent, other than as a result of a public offering of such Voting Stock, at which time the Permitted Holders shall hold at least thirty percent (30%) of the voting power of the total outstanding Voting Stock of Parent, and the failure of Parent to own one hundred percent (100%) of the voting power of the total outstanding Voting Stock of the other Borrowers.

        1.25    "Code"    shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as the same now exists or may from time to time hereafter be amended, modified, recodified or supplemented, together with all rules, regulations and interpretations thereunder or related thereto.

        1.26    "Collateral"    shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5 hereof.

        1.27    "Collateral Access Agreement"    shall mean an agreement in writing, in form and substance satisfactory to Lender, from any lessor of premises to any Borrower, or any other person to whom any Collateral (including Inventory, Equipment, bills of lading or other documents of title) is consigned or who has custody, control or possession of any such Collateral or is otherwise the owner or operator of any premises on which any of such Collateral is located, pursuant to which such lessor, consignee or other person, inter alia, acknowledges the first priority security interest of Lender in such Collateral, agrees to waive any and all claims such lessor, consignee or other person may, at any time, have against such Collateral, whether for processing, storage or otherwise, and agrees to permit Lender access to, and the right to remain on, the premises of such lessor, consignee or other person so as to exercise Lender's rights and remedies and otherwise deal with such Collateral and, in the case of any consignee or other person who at any time has custody, control or possession of any Collateral, acknowledges that it holds and will hold possession of the Collateral for the benefit of Lender and agrees to follow all instructions of Lender with respect thereto.

        1.28    "Compliance Excess Availability"    shall mean the amount, as determined by Lender, as of any time, equal to: (a) the Borrowing Base, plus (b) the lesser of (i) Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000) and (ii) the result of (A) Borrowers' unrestricted cash and/or Cash Equivalents that are on deposit in a securities or deposit account subject to a control agreement, in form and substance satisfactory to Lender, minus (B) the book overdraft of Borrower, minus (C) the amount of all then outstanding and unpaid Obligations.

        1.29    "Compliance Triggering Event"    shall mean the occurrence of any event or events or the existence of any circumstance or circumstances that cause the sum of (i) the Compliance Excess Availability under this Agreement, plus (ii) the amount, converted to Dollars, resulting from the corresponding calculation under the Canadian Facility to be less than Twenty Million Dollars ($20,000,000).

        1.30    "Default"    shall mean an act, condition or event which with notice or passage of time or both would constitute an Event of Default.

        1.31    "Deposit Account Control Agreement"    shall mean an agreement in writing, in form and substance satisfactory to Lender, by and among Lender, any Borrower and any bank at which any deposit account of such Borrower is at any time maintained which provides that such bank will comply

5



with instructions originated by Lender directing disposition of the funds in the deposit account without further consent by such Borrower and such other terms and conditions as Lender may require, including as to any such agreement with respect to any Blocked Account, providing that all items received or deposited in the Blocked Accounts are the property of Lender, that the bank has no lien upon, or right to setoff against, the Blocked Accounts, the items received for deposit therein, or the funds from time to time on deposit therein and that the bank will wire, or otherwise transfer, in immediately available funds, on a daily basis to the Lender Payment Account all funds received or deposited into the Blocked Accounts, as provided in Sections 6.3 and 6.4.

        1.32    "Dilution"    means, as of any date of determination, a percentage, based upon the experience of the immediately prior 180 days, that is the result of dividing the Dollar (or Dollar equivalent) amount of (a) bad debt write-downs, discounts, advertising allowances, credits, or other dilutive items with respect to the Accounts during such period, by (b) Borrowers' gross billings with respect to Accounts during such period.

        1.33    "Dilution Reserve"    means, as of any date of determination, a Reserve sufficient to reduce the advance rate against Eligible Accounts by one percentage point for each percentage point or fraction thereof by which Dilution is in excess of six percent (6%).

        1.34    "Discount Reserve"    shall mean a Reserve equal to the discount reserve taken by Borrowers on their financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP of discounts on sales of Inventory allowed by Borrowers as reported by Borrowers in the financial statements delivered under Section 9.6.

        1.35    "Dollars"    or "$" means United States dollars.

        1.36    "Domestic Subsidiary"    shall mean a Subsidiary that is organized or incorporated under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia.

        1.37    "EBITDA"    shall mean, with respect to any fiscal period, Parent's and its Subsidiaries' consolidated net earnings (or loss), minus extraordinary gains, plus interest expense, income taxes, and depreciation and amortization, plus non-cash extraordinary losses for such period, as determined in accordance with GAAP.

        1.38    "Eligible Accounts"    shall mean Accounts created by Borrowers which are and continue to be acceptable to Lender based on the criteria set forth below. In general, Accounts shall be Eligible Accounts if:

6


7


        The criteria for Eligible Accounts set forth above may only be changed and any new criteria for Eligible Accounts may only be established by Lender in good faith based on either: (i) an event, condition or other circumstance arising after the date hereof, or (ii) an event, condition or other circumstance existing on the date hereof to the extent Lender has no written notice thereof from Borrowers prior to the date hereof, in either case under clause (i) or (ii) which adversely affects or could reasonably be expected to adversely affect the Accounts in the good faith determination of Lender. Any Accounts which are not Eligible Accounts shall nevertheless be part of the Collateral.

        1.39    "Eligible Inventory"    shall mean Inventory consisting of finished goods held for resale in the ordinary course of the business of Borrowers and raw materials for such finished goods, in each case which are acceptable to Lender based on the criteria set forth below. In general, Eligible Inventory shall not include:

8


9


        The criteria for Eligible Inventory set forth above may only be changed and any new criteria for Eligible Inventory may only be established by Lender in good faith based on either: (i) an event, condition or other circumstance arising after the date hereof, or (ii) an event, condition or other circumstance existing on the date hereof to the extent Lender has no written notice thereof from Borrowers prior to the date hereof, in either case under clause (i) or (ii) which adversely affects or could reasonably be expected to adversely affect the Inventory in the good faith determination of Lender. Any Inventory which is not Eligible Inventory shall nevertheless be part of the Collateral.

        1.40    "Environmental Laws"    shall mean all foreign, Federal, State and local laws (including common law), legislation, rules, codes, licenses, permits (including any conditions imposed therein), authorizations, judicial or administrative decisions, injunctions or agreements between any Borrower and any Governmental Authority, (a) relating to pollution and the protection, preservation or restoration of the environment (including air, water vapor, surface water, ground water, drinking water, drinking water supply, surface land, subsurface land, plant and animal life or any other natural resource), or to human health or safety, (b) relating to the exposure to, or the use, storage, recycling, treatment, generation, manufacture, processing, distribution, transportation, handling, labeling, production, release or disposal, or threatened release, of Hazardous Materials, or (c) relating to all laws with regard to recordkeeping, notification, disclosure and reporting requirements respecting Hazardous Materials. The term "Environmental Laws" includes (i) the Federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, the Federal Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act, the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972, the Federal Clean Water Act, the Federal Clean Air Act, the Federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (including the Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments thereto), the Federal Solid Waste Disposal and the Federal Toxic Substances Control Act, the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, and the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974, (ii) applicable state counterparts to such laws, and (iii) any common law or equitable doctrine that may impose liability or obligations for injuries or damages due to, or threatened as a result of, the presence of or exposure to any Hazardous Materials.

        1.41    "Equipment"    shall mean all of Borrowers' now owned and hereafter acquired equipment, wherever located, including machinery, data processing and computer equipment and computer hardware and software, whether owned or licensed, and including embedded software, vehicles, tools, furniture, fixtures, all attachments, accessions and property now or hereafter affixed thereto or used in connection therewith, and substitutions and replacements thereof, wherever located.

        1.42    "ERISA"    shall mean the United States Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, together with all final regulations thereunder.

        1.43    "ERISA Affiliate"    shall mean any person required to be aggregated with any Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries under Sections 414(b), 414(c), 414(m) or 414(o) of the Code.

        1.44    "ERISA Event"    shall mean (a) any "reportable event", as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder, with respect to a Plan (excluding those for which the provision for 30-day notice to the PBGC has been waived by regulation); (b) the adoption of any amendment to a Plan that would require the provision of security pursuant to Section 401(a)(29) of the Code or Section 307 of ERISA; (c) the existence with respect to any Plan of an "accumulated funding deficiency" (as defined in Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA), whether or not waived; (d) the filing pursuant to Section 412 of the Code or Section 303(d) of ERISA of an application for a waiver of the minimum funding standard with respect to any Plan; (e) the occurrence of a "prohibited transaction" with respect to which any Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is a "disqualified person" (within the meaning of Section 4975 of the Code) or with respect to which any Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries could otherwise be liable; (f) a complete or partial withdrawal by any Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan or a cessation of operations which is treated as such a withdrawal or notification that a Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization; (g) the filing of a notice of

10



intent to terminate, the treatment of a Plan amendment as a termination under Section 4041 or 4041A of ERISA, or the commencement of proceedings by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation to terminate a Plan; (h) an event or condition which might reasonably be expected to constitute grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Plan; (i) the imposition of any liability under Title IV of ERISA, other than the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation premiums due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA, upon any Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate; and (j) any other event or condition with respect to a Plan including any Plan subject to Title IV of ERISA maintained, or contributed to, by any ERISA Affiliate that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.

        1.45    "Eurodollar Rate"    shall mean with respect to the Interest Period for a Eurodollar Rate Loan, the interest rate per annum equal to the arithmetic average of the rates of interest per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next one-sixteenth (1/16) of one percent (1%)) at which Reference Bank is offered deposits of United States dollars in the London interbank market (or other Eurodollar Rate market selected by Borrowers and approved by Lender) on or about 9:00 a.m. (New York time) two (2) Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period in amounts substantially equal to the principal amount of the Eurodollar Rate Loans requested by and available to Borrowers in accordance with this Agreement, with a maturity of comparable duration to the Interest Period selected by Borrowers.

        1.46    "Eurodollar Rate Loans"    shall mean any Loans or portion thereof on which interest is payable based on the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate in accordance with the terms hereof.

        1.47    "Event of Default"    shall mean the occurrence or existence of any event or condition described in Section 10.1 hereof.

        1.48    "Excess Availability"    shall mean the amount, as determined by Lender, calculated at any time, equal to: (a) the Borrowing Base, plus (b) Borrowers' unrestricted cash and/or Cash Equivalents that are on deposit in a securities or deposit account subject to a control agreement, in form and substance satisfactory to Lender, minus (c) the book overdraft of Borrower, minus (d) the sum of: (i) the amount of all then outstanding and unpaid Obligations, plus (ii) the aggregate amount of all then outstanding and unpaid trade payables and other obligations of Borrowers which are more than sixty (60) days past due as of the last day of the immediately preceding fiscal month, and plus (iii) the amount of checks issued by Borrowers to pay trade payables and other obligations which are more than sixty (60) days past due as of such time, but not yet sent (but without duplication of clause (b)(ii)), as of the last day of the immediately preceding fiscal month.

        1.49    "Exchange Act"    shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, together with all rules, regulations and interpretations thereunder or related thereto.

        1.50    "Federal Funds Rate"    means, for any day, the rate per annum equal to the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers on such day, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank on the Business Day next succeeding such day; provided that (a) if such day is not a Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be such rate on such transactions on the next preceding Business Day as so published on the next succeeding Business Day, and (b) if no such rate is so published on such next succeeding Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be the average rate (rounded upward, if necessary, to a whole multiple of 1/100 of 1%) charged to Lender on such day.

        1.51    "Financing Agreements"    shall mean, collectively, this Agreement and all notes, guaranties, security agreements and other agreements, documents and instruments now or at any time hereafter executed and/or delivered by Borrowers or any Obligor in connection with this Agreement.

        1.52    "GAAP"    shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America as in effect from time to time as set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the

11



Accounting Principles Board and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board which are applicable to the circumstances as of the date of determination consistently applied, except that, for purposes of Section 9.18 hereof, GAAP shall be determined on the basis of such principles in effect on the date hereof and consistent with those used in the preparation of the most recent audited financial statements delivered to Lender prior to the date hereof.

        1.53    "Gift Certificate and Store Credit Reserve"    shall mean, as of any date of determination, a Reserve equal to the amount of fifty percent (50%) of all (i) accrued and outstanding gift certificates issued by Borrowers in the ordinary course of business and (ii) the aggregate amount of outstanding store credits given by Borrowers to their customers in the ordinary course of business.

        1.54    "Governmental Authority"    shall mean any nation or government, any state, province, or other political subdivision thereof, any central bank (or similar monetary or regulatory authority) thereof, any entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to government, and any corporation or other entity owned or controlled, through stock or capital ownership or otherwise, by any of the foregoing.

        1.55    "Guess Licensing"    shall mean Guess Licensing, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned Subsidiary of Parent.

        1.56    "Hazardous Materials"    shall mean any hazardous, toxic or dangerous substances, materials and wastes, including hydrocarbons (including naturally occurring or man-made petroleum and hydrocarbons), flammable explosives, asbestos, urea formaldehyde insulation, radioactive materials, biological substances, polychlorinated biphenyls, pesticides, herbicides and any other kind and/or type of pollutants or contaminants (including materials which include hazardous constituents), sewage, sludge, industrial slag, solvents and/or any other similar substances, materials, or wastes and including any other substances, materials or wastes that are or become regulated under any Environmental Law (including any that are or become classified as hazardous or toxic under any Environmental Law).

        1.57    "Indebtedness"    shall mean, with respect to any Person, any liability, whether or not contingent, (a) in respect of borrowed money (whether or not the recourse of the lender is to the whole of the assets of such Person or only to a portion thereof) or evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments; (b) representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property or services (except any such balance that constitutes an account payable to a trade creditor (whether or not an Affiliate) created, incurred, assumed or guaranteed by such Person in the ordinary course of business of such Person in connection with obtaining goods, materials or services that is not overdue by more than ninety (90) days, unless the trade payable is being contested in good faith); (c) all obligations as lessee under leases which have been, or should be, in accordance with GAAP recorded as Capital Leases; (d) any contractual obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such Person to pay or be liable for the payment of any indebtedness described in this definition of another Person, including, without limitation, any such indebtedness, directly or indirectly guaranteed, or any agreement to purchase, repurchase, or otherwise acquire such indebtedness, obligation or liability or any security therefor, or to provide funds for the payment or discharge thereof, or to maintain solvency, assets, level of income, or other financial condition; (e) all obligations with respect to redeemable stock and redemption or repurchase obligations under any Capital Stock or other equity securities issued by such Person; (f) all reimbursement obligations and other liabilities of such Person with respect to surety bonds (whether bid, performance or otherwise), letters of credit, banker's acceptances, drafts or similar documents or instruments issued for such Person's account; (g) all indebtedness of such Person in respect of indebtedness of another Person for borrowed money or indebtedness of another Person otherwise described in this definition which is secured by any consensual lien, security interest, collateral assignment, conditional sale, mortgage, deed of trust, or other encumbrance on any asset of such Person, whether or not such obligations, liabilities or indebtedness are assumed by or are a

12



personal liability of such Person, all as of such time; (h) all obligations, liabilities and indebtedness of such Person (market to market) arising under swap agreements, cap agreements and collar agreements and other agreements or arrangements designed to protect such Person against fluctuations in interest rates or currency or commodity values; and (i) all obligations owed by such Person under License Agreements with respect to non-refundable, advance or minimum guaranty royalty payments.

        1.58    "Information Certificate"    shall mean the Information Certificate of Borrowers constituting Exhibit A hereto containing material information with respect to Borrowers, their business and assets provided by or on behalf of Borrowers to Lender in connection with the preparation of this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements and the financing arrangements provided for herein.

        1.59    "Intellectual Property"    shall mean Borrowers' now owned and hereafter arising or acquired: patents, patent rights, patent applications, copyrights, works which are the subject matter of copyrights, copyright registrations, trademarks, trade names, trade styles, trademark and service mark applications, and licenses and rights to use any of the foregoing; all extensions, renewals, reissues, divisions, continuations, and continuations-in-part of any of the foregoing; all rights to sue for past, present and future infringement of any of the foregoing; inventions, trade secrets, formulae, processes, compounds, drawings, designs, blueprints, surveys, reports, manuals, and operating standards; goodwill (including any goodwill associated with any trademark or the license of any trademark); customer and other lists in whatever form maintained; and trade secret rights, copyright rights, rights in works of authorship, domain names and domain name registrations; software and contract rights relating to software, in whatever form created or maintained.

        1.60    "Interest Period"    shall mean for any Eurodollar Rate Loan, a period of approximately one (1), two (2), or three (3) months duration as Borrowers may elect, the exact duration to be determined in accordance with the customary practice in the applicable Eurodollar Rate market; provided, that Borrowers may not elect an Interest Period which will end after the last day of the then-current term of this Agreement.

        1.61    "Interest Rate"    shall mean, as to Prime Rate Loans, a rate equal to the Prime Rate plus the Prime Rate Margin shown below as in effect from time to time, and, as to Eurodollar Rate Loans, a rate equal to the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate (based on the Eurodollar Rate applicable for the Interest Period selected by Borrowers as in effect three (3) Business Days after the date of receipt by Lender of the request of Borrowers for such Eurodollar Rate Loans in accordance with the terms hereof, whether such rate is higher or lower than any rate previously quoted to Borrowers) plus the Eurodollar Rate Margin shown below as in effect from time to time:

 
  Trailing Four Quarters EBITDA

   
  Average Excess Availability

  Margin over
Prime Rate

  Margin over
Adjusted
Eurodollar Rate

  Greater than or equal to $70,000,000     Greater than or equal to $40,000,000   0.00%   1.75%


 

Greater than or equal to $55,000,000 but less than $70,000,000

 


 

Greater than or equal to $30,000,000 but less than $40,000,000

 

0.25%

 

2.00%


 

Greater than or equal to $40,000,000 but less than $55,000,000

 


 

Greater than or equal to $20,000,000 but less than $30,000,000

 

0.50%

 

2.25%


 

Greater than or equal to $25,000,000 but less than $40,000,000

 


 

Less than $20,000,000

 

0.75%

 

2.50%

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        If Borrowers' Trailing Four Quarters EBITDA is less than Twenty Five Million Dollars ($25,000,000), the Interest Rate shall be calculated using the margins based on Average Excess Availability set forth above. If Borrowers' Trailing Four Quarters EBITDA is Twenty Five Million Dollars ($25,000,000) or more, the Interest Rate shall be calculated using the lower of the margins applicable based on Trailing Four Quarters EBITDA or Average Excess Availability. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the initial interest rate shall be the Prime Rate plus one-half percent (0.50%) per annum with respect to Prime Rate Loans and the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate plus two and one-fourth percent (2.25%) per annum with respect to Eurodollar Rate Loans, and such rates shall be in effect until financial statements for the period ending December 31, 2002 are delivered; thereafter, the Interest Rate will be adjusted quarterly based on the margins set forth above, such adjustments to take effect on the first day of the month following the timely delivery of financial statements to Lender under this Agreement together with such daily reports of cash and Cash Equivalents that are on deposit in a securities or deposit account subject to a control agreement, in form and substance satisfactory to Lender, less the book overdrafts of Borrowers for such fiscal quarter as requested by Lender and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Lender. If financial statements are not timely delivered, the Interest Rate shall be set using the highest margins shown above and shall remain at that rate until the delivery of financial statements that permit the setting of the Interest Rate in accordance with the table above.

        1.62    "Inventory"    shall mean all of Borrowers' now owned and hereafter existing or acquired goods, wherever located, which (a) are leased by any Borrower as lessor; (b) are held by any Borrower for sale or lease or to be furnished under a contract of service or in transit; (c) are furnished by any Borrower under a contract of service; or (d) consist of raw materials, work in process, finished goods or materials used or consumed in Borrowers' business.

        1.63    "Inventory Sublimit"    shall mean an amount equal to the lesser of (y) Sixty-Five Million Dollars ($65,000,000), or (z) an amount equal to seventy-six percent (76%) of the Maximum Credit.

        1.64    "Investment Property Control Agreement"    shall mean an agreement in writing, in form and substance satisfactory to Lender, by and among Lender, any Borrower and any securities intermediary, commodity intermediary or other person who has custody, control or possession of any investment property of such Borrower acknowledging that such securities intermediary, commodity intermediary or other person has custody, control or possession of such investment property on behalf of Lender, that it will comply with entitlement orders originated by Lender with respect to such investment property, or other instructions of Lender, or (as the case may be) apply any value distributed on account of any commodity contract as directed by Lender, in each case, without the further consent of such Borrower and including such other terms and conditions as Lender may require.

        1.65    "Lender Payment Account"    shall mean account no. 5000000030321 of Lender at First Union National Bank located at Charlotte, North Carolina, with an ABA no. 053000219 or such other account of Lender as Lender may from time to time designate to Borrowers as the Lender Payment Account for purposes of this Agreement.

        1.66    "Letter of Credit Accommodations"    shall mean, collectively, the letters of credit, merchandise purchase or other guaranties which are from time to time either (a) issued or opened by Lender for the account of any Borrower or (b) with respect to which Lender has agreed to indemnify the issuer or guaranteed to the issuer the performance by any Borrower of its obligations to such issuer; sometimes being referred to herein individually as a "Letter of Credit Accommodation".

        1.67    "License Agreements"    shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.10 hereof.

        1.68    "Loans"    shall mean the loans now or hereafter made by Lender to or for the benefit of Borrowers on a revolving basis (involving advances, repayments and readvances) as set forth in Section 2.1 hereof.

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        1.69    "Material Adverse Change"    shall mean (a) a material adverse change in the business, prospects, operations, results of operations, assets, liabilities or condition (financial or otherwise) of Borrowers taken as a whole, (b) a material impairment of Borrowers' ability to perform their obligations under the Financing Agreements or of Lender's ability to enforce the Obligations or realize upon the Collateral, or (c) a material impairment of the enforceability or priority of Lender's liens or security interests with respect to the Collateral as a result of an action or failure to act on the part of a Borrower.

        1.70    "Material Contract"    shall mean (a) any contract or other agreement (other than the Financing Agreements or agreements relating solely to the purchase by any Borrower of Inventory in the ordinary course of such Borrower's business), written or oral, of any Borrower or Borrowers involving monetary liability of or to any Person in an amount in excess of Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000) in any fiscal year and (b) any other contract or other agreement (other than the Financing Agreements), whether written or oral, to which any Borrower is a party as to which the breach, nonperformance, cancellation or failure to renew by any party thereto would have a material adverse effect on the business, assets, condition (financial or otherwise) or results of operations or prospects of Borrowers or the validity or enforceability of this Agreement, any of the other Financing Agreements, or any of the rights and remedies of Lender hereunder or thereunder.

        1.71    "Maximum Credit"    shall mean at any time the amount of Eighty-Five Million Dollars ($85,000,000) (subject to Borrowers' right to reduce such amount under Section 12.1(d)) minus the Canadian Maximum Credit.

        1.72    "Multiemployer Plan"    shall mean a "multi-employer plan" as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA which is or was at any time during the current year or the immediately preceding six (6) years contributed to by any Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate.

        1.73    "Net Amount of Eligible Accounts"    shall mean the gross amount of Eligible Accounts less returns, claims, credits and allowances of any nature at any time issued, owing, granted, outstanding, available or claimed with respect thereto.

        1.74    "Net Recovery Value"    shall mean the net cash Value derived from the sale and disposition of the Eligible Inventory after deduction of all liquidation costs and other fees and expenses associated therewith.

        1.75    "Obligations"    shall mean any and all Loans, the Letter of Credit Accommodations and all other obligations, liabilities and indebtedness of every kind, nature and description owing by Borrowers to Lender and/or its affiliates, including principal, interest, charges, fees, costs and expenses, however evidenced, whether as principal, surety, endorser, guarantor or otherwise, whether arising under this Agreement or otherwise, whether now existing or hereafter arising, whether arising before, during or after the initial or any renewal term of this Agreement or after the commencement of any case with respect to any Borrower under the United States Bankruptcy Code or any similar statute (including the payment of interest and other amounts which would accrue and become due but for the commencement of such case, whether or not such amounts are allowed or allowable in whole or in part in such case), whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, joint or several, due or not due, primary or secondary, liquidated or unliquidated, secured or unsecured, and however acquired by Lender.

        1.76    "Obligor"    shall mean any guarantor, endorser, acceptor, surety or other person liable on or with respect to the Obligations or who is the owner of any property which is security for the Obligations, other than Borrowers.

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        1.77    "Parent"    shall mean Guess ?, Inc.

        1.78    "Permitted Holders"    shall mean collectively Maurice Marciano, Paul Marciano and Armand Marciano, the members of their families, their respective estates, spouses, heirs, ancestors, lineal descendants, spouses of lineal descendants, legatees and legal representatives of any of the foregoing and any trust of which one or more of the foregoing are the trustors, the trustees and/or the beneficiaries.

        1.79    "Person"    or "person" shall mean any individual, sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation (including any corporation which elects subchapter S status under the Code), limited liability company, limited liability partnership, business trust, unincorporated association, joint stock corporation, trust, joint venture or other entity or any government or any agency or instrumentality or political subdivision thereof.

        1.80    "Plan"    means an employee benefit plan (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) which any Borrower sponsors, maintains, or to which it makes, is making, or is obligated to make contributions, or in the case of a Multiemployer Plan has made contributions at any time during the immediately preceding six (6) plan years.

        1.81    "Prime Rate"    shall mean the rate from time to time publicly announced by the Reference Bank as its prime rate, whether or not such announced rate is the best rate available at such bank.

        1.82    "Prime Rate Loans"    shall mean any Loans or portion thereof on which interest is payable based on the Prime Rate in accordance with the terms thereof.

        1.83    "Receivables"    shall mean all of the following now owned or hereafter arising or acquired property of Borrowers: (a) all Accounts; (b) all interest, fees, late charges, penalties, collection fees and other amounts due or to become due or otherwise payable in connection with any Account; and (c) all payment intangibles of any Borrower and other contract rights, chattel paper, instruments, notes, and other forms of obligations owing to any Borrower, whether from the sale and lease of goods or other property, licensing of any property (including Intellectual Property or other general intangibles), rendition of services or from loans or advances by any Borrower or to or for the benefit of any third person (including loans or advances to any Affiliates or Subsidiaries of any Borrower) or otherwise associated with any Accounts, Inventory or general intangibles of any Borrower (including, without limitation, choses in action, causes of action, tax refunds, tax refund claims, any funds which may become payable to any Borrower in connection with the termination of any Plan or other employee benefit plan and any other amounts payable to any Borrower from any Plan or other employee benefit plan, rights and claims against carriers and shippers, rights to indemnification, business interruption insurance and proceeds thereof, casualty or any similar types of insurance and any proceeds thereof and proceeds of insurance covering the lives of employees on which any Borrower is a beneficiary).

        1.84    "Records"    shall mean all of Borrowers' present and future books of account of every kind or nature, purchase and sale agreements, invoices, ledger cards, bills of lading and other shipping evidence, statements, correspondence, memoranda, credit files and other data relating to the Collateral or any account debtor, together with the tapes, disks, diskettes and other data and software storage media and devices, file cabinets or containers in or on which the foregoing are stored (including any rights of Borrowers with respect to the foregoing maintained with or by any other person).

        1.85    "Reference Bank"    shall mean Wachovia Bank, National Association, its successor or such other bank as Lender may from time to time designate.

        1.86    "Renewal Date"    shall the meaning set forth in Section 12.1 hereof.

        1.87    "Reserves"    shall mean as of any date of determination, such amounts as Lender may from time to time establish and revise in good faith reducing the amount of Loans and Letter of Credit Accommodations which would otherwise be available to Borrowers under the lending formula(s)

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provided for herein: (a) to reflect events, conditions, contingencies or risks which, as determined by Lender in good faith, adversely affect, or would have a reasonable likelihood of adversely affecting, either (i) the Collateral or any other property which is security for the Obligations or its value, (ii) the assets, business or prospects of Borrowers or any Obligor or (iii) the security interests and other rights of Lender in the Collateral (including the enforceability, perfection and priority thereof) or (b) to reflect Lender's good faith belief that any collateral report or financial information furnished by or on behalf of Borrowers or any Obligor to Lender is or may have been incomplete, inaccurate or misleading in any material respect or (c) to reflect outstanding Letter of Credit Accommodations as provided in Section 2.2 hereof or (d) in respect of any state of facts which Lender determines in good faith constitutes a Default or an Event of Default. To the extent Lender may revise the lending formulas used to determine the Borrowing Base or establish new criteria or revise existing criteria for Eligible Accounts or Eligible Inventory so as to address any circumstances, condition, event or contingency in a manner satisfactory to Lender, Lender shall not establish a Reserve for the same purpose. The amount of any Reserve established by Lender shall have a reasonable relationship to the event, condition or other matter which is the basis for such reserve as determined by Lender in good faith. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Reserves shall include the Dilution Reserve, the Shrinkage Reserve, the Discount Reserve and the Canadian Permitted Overadvance Reserve and may at Lender's discretion include a reserve for sales tax liability.

        1.88    "Securitization"    shall mean the series of related transactions by which (i) Parent and Guess Licensing may transfer to a SPE all or any part of the Securitization Assets, (ii) the SPE will transfer and/or pledge all or certain of such Securitization Assets to another Subsidiary (which may be a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust or other legal entity) which will be wholly-owned by the SPE that will issue securities or debt instruments evidencing interests in or secured by such assets and/or the proceeds thereof, (iii) all accounts and other Securitization Assets of the SPE and the proceeds thereof are segregated from and not commingled with the Accounts, the other items of Collateral and the proceeds thereof.

        1.89    "Securitization Assets"    shall mean (i) all or any part of the Intellectual Property that includes and is related to the registered and unregistered trademarks and tradenames currently utilized in the business operations of Parent and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates, including those that are licensed to third parties in and outside of the United States by Parent and Guess Licensing, (ii) all of their respective rights under all or specific licenses granted by Parent and Guess Licensing and (iii) all proceeds from the exploitation thereof or arising with respect thereto, including without limitation all amounts payable by licensees under such licenses and all proceeds of the enforcement of rights with respect to such Intellectual Property.

        1.90    "Securitization Closing Date"    shall mean the closing date of a Securitization.

        1.91    "Securitization Documents"    shall mean the organizational documents of a SPE and any documents entered into by any Borrower, any Subsidiary of a Borrower and/or a SPE in connection with a Securitization.

        1.92    "SPE"    shall mean a direct or indirect Subsidiary of Parent, which may be a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust or other legal entity, formed solely for the purposes of effectuating a Securitization.

        1.93    "Shrinkage Reserve"    shall mean a Reserve for reductions in Inventory equal to the shrinkage reserve taken by Borrowers on their financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP.

        1.94    "Solvent"    shall mean, at any time with respect to any Person, that at such time such Person (a) is able to pay its debts as they mature and has (and has a reasonable basis to believe it will continue to have) sufficient capital (and not unreasonably small capital) to carry on its business consistent with its practices as of the date hereof, and (b) the assets and properties of such Person at a

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fair valuation (and including as assets for this purpose at a fair valuation all rights of subrogation, contribution or indemnification arising pursuant to any guaranties given by such Person) are greater than the Indebtedness of such Person, and including subordinated and contingent liabilities computed at the amount which, such person has a reasonable basis to believe, represents an amount which can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability (and including as to contingent liabilities arising pursuant to any guaranty the face amount of such liability as reduced to reflect the probability of it becoming a matured liability).

        1.95    "Subordinated Notes"    shall mean the 9.50% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2003 and 9.50% Series B Senior Subordinated Notes due 2003 of Parent issued pursuant to an Indenture dated August 23, 1993 with First Trust National Association as Trustee.

        1.96    "Subsidiary"    or "subsidiary" shall mean, with respect to any Person, any corporation, limited liability company, limited liability partnership or other limited or general partnership, trust, association or other business entity of which an aggregate of at least a majority of the outstanding Capital Stock or other interests entitled to vote in the election of the board of directors of such corporation (irrespective of whether, at the time, Capital Stock of any other class or classes of such corporation shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency), managers, trustees or other controlling persons, or an equivalent controlling interest therein, of such Person is, at the time, directly or indirectly, owned by such Person and/or one or more subsidiaries of such Person.

        1.97    "Trailing Four Quarters EBITDA"    shall mean, with respect to any fiscal period, the sum of Parent's and its Subsidiaries' consolidated EBITDA for each of the four (4) fiscal quarters ending at the end of the fiscal period for which the calculation is made.

        1.98    "UCC"    shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of California, and any successor statute, as in effect from time to time (except that terms used herein which are defined in the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of California on the date hereof shall continue to have the same meaning notwithstanding any replacement or amendment of such statute except as Lender may otherwise determine.

        1.99    "Value"    shall mean, as determined by Lender in good faith, with respect to Inventory, the lower of (a) cost computed on a first-in-first-out basis in accordance with GAAP or (b) market value provided, that, for purposes of the calculation of the Borrowing Base, (i) the Value of the Inventory shall not include: (A) the portion of the value of Inventory equal to the profit earned by any Affiliate on the sale thereof to any Borrower (known as "intercompany profit") or (B) write-ups or write-downs in value with respect to currency exchange rates and (ii) notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the cost of the Inventory shall be computed in the same manner and consistent with the most recent appraisal of the Inventory received and accepted by Lender prior to the date hereof, if any.

        1.100    "Voting Stock"    shall mean with respect to any Person, (a) one (1) or more classes of Capital Stock of such Person having general voting power to elect at least a majority of the board of directors, managers or trustees of such Person, irrespective of whether at the time Capital Stock of any other class or classes have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency, and (b) any Capital Stock of such Person convertible or exchangeable without restriction at the option of the holder thereof into Capital Stock of such Person described in clause (a) of this definition.

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        SECTION 2.    CREDIT FACILITIES

        2.1    Loans.    

        2.2    Letter of Credit Accommodations.    

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  Trailing Four Quarters EBITDA

   
  Average Excess Availability

  L/C Fee
  Greater than or equal to $70,000,000     Greater than or equal to $40,000,000   1.50%


 

Greater than or equal to $55,000,000 but less than $70,000,000

 


 

Greater than or equal to $30,000,000 but less than $40,000,000

 

1.75%


 

Greater than or equal to $40,000,000 but less than $55,000,000

 


 

Greater than or equal to $20,000,000 but less than $30,000,000

 

1.75%


 

Greater than or equal to $25,000,000 but less than $40,000,000

 


 

Less than $20,000,000

 

2.00

        If Borrowers' Trailing Four Quarters EBITDA is less than Twenty Five Million Dollars ($25,000,000), the letter of credit fee shall be calculated using the margin based on Average Excess Availability set forth above. If Borrowers' Trailing Four Quarters EBITDA is Twenty Five Million Dollars ($25,000,000) or more, the letter of credit fee shall be calculated using the lower of the margins applicable based on Trailing Four Quarters EBITDA or Average Excess Availability. If financial statements are not timely delivered, the letter of credit fee shall be set using the highest margin shown above and shall remain at that rate until the delivery of financial statements that permit the setting of the letter of credit fee in accordance with the table above. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Borrowers shall pay to Lender such letter of credit fee, at Lender's option, without notice, at a rate equal to two percent (2%) per annum higher than the highest rate set forth above on such daily outstanding balance for: (i) the period from and after the date of termination or non-renewal hereof until Lender has received full and final payment of all Obligations (notwithstanding entry of a judgment against any Borrower) and (ii) the period from and after the date of the occurrence of an Event of Default for so long as such Event of Default is continuing as determined by Lender. Such letter of credit fee shall, in each case, be calculated on the basis of a three hundred sixty (360) day year and actual days elapsed and the obligation of Borrowers to pay such fee shall survive the termination or non-renewal of this Agreement.

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        SECTION 3.    INTEREST AND FEES

        3.1    Interest.    

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        3.2    Closing Fee.    Borrowers shall pay to Lender as a closing fee the amount of Five Hundred Thirty-Seven Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($537,500), which shall be fully earned as of the date hereof and one-half of which shall be payable on the date hereof and the remaining one-half shall be payable on the first anniversary of the date hereof. This amount is intended to include any closing fee that would otherwise be due in connection with the Canadian Facility.

        3.3    Servicing Fee.    Borrowers shall pay to Lender monthly a servicing fee in an amount equal to Seven Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($7,500) in respect of Lender's services for each month (or part thereof) while this Agreement remains in effect and for so long thereafter as any of the Obligations are outstanding, which fee shall be fully earned as of and payable in advance on the date hereof and on the first day of each month hereafter. This amount is intended to include any servicing fee that would otherwise be due in connection with the Canadian Facility.

        3.4    Unused Line Fee.    Borrowers shall pay to Lender monthly an unused line fee at a rate equal to three-eighths percent (0.375%) per annum calculated upon the amount by which Sixty Million Dollars ($60,000,000) exceeds the average daily principal balance of the outstanding Loans and Letter of Credit Accommodations during the immediately preceding month (or part thereof) while this Agreement is in effect and for so long thereafter as any of the Obligations are outstanding, which fee shall be payable on the first day of each month in arrears.

        3.5    Changes in Laws and Increased Costs of Loans.    

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        SECTION 4.    CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

        4.1    Conditions Precedent to Initial Loans and Letter of Credit Accommodations.    Each of the following is a condition precedent to Lender making the initial Loans and providing the initial Letter of Credit Accommodations hereunder:

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        4.2    Conditions Precedent to All Loans and Letter of Credit Accommodations.    Each of the following is an additional condition precedent to Lender making Loans and/or providing Letter of Credit Accommodations to Borrowers, including the initial Loans and Letter of Credit Accommodations and any future Loans and Letter of Credit Accommodations:

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        4.3    Conditions Subsequent.    The following conditions subsequent must be performed within the time frames specified. The failure of these conditions, or any of them, shall constitute an Event of Default under this Agreement.

        SECTION 5.    GRANT AND PERFECTION OF SECURITY INTEREST

        5.1    Grant of Security Interest.    To secure payment and performance of all Obligations, each Borrower hereby grants to Lender a continuing security interest in, a lien upon, and a right of set off against, and hereby assigns to Lender as security, all personal property and trade fixtures and interests in property and fixtures of such Borrower, whether now owned or hereafter acquired or existing, and wherever located (together with all other collateral security for the Obligations at any time granted to or held or acquired by Lender, collectively, the "Collateral"), including:

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        5.2    Perfection of Security Interests.    

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29


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        5.3    Release of Security Interest in Connection with Securitization.    On any Securitization Closing Date and, so long as no Availability Triggering Event and/or an Event of Default has occurred, is continuing or would result therefrom and an Availability Compliance Period (related to an Availability Triggering Event) is not in effect, Parent shall deliver an officer's certificate to Lender stating that such Securitization will close in accordance with the terms of the Securitization Documents where upon the security interest of Lender in the Securitization Assets will be released. Upon the receipt of such officer's certificate, the security interest of Lender in the Securitization Assets associated with such Securitization shall be released without further action by any party, including Lender or any assignee or participant, and Lender, as requested by, and at the expense of, Parent, shall without the necessity of obtaining consent from any assignee or any participant, execute any documents or instruments necessary, in the reasonable judgment of Parent, to evidence such release; provided, in each case, that (i) Lender has received an irrevocable license, in form and substance satisfactory to Lender, from the SPE to use the Intellectual Property included in the Securitization Assets to dispose of or otherwise exercise its rights with respect to any Inventory, (ii) Borrowers have received an irrevocable license, in form and substance satisfactory to Lender, from the SPE to use the Intellectual Property included in the Securitization Assets to conduct their business, (iii) Lender has received from Borrowers a

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sublicense, in form and substance satisfactory to Lender, extending Borrowers' licensed rights in the Intellectual Property included in the Securitization Assets to Lender, and (iv) receipt by Lender of an opinion of counsel to Borrowers to the effect that the Securitization Documents do not violate, breach or result in a Default under the Financing Agreements, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Lender.

        SECTION 6. COLLECTION AND ADMINISTRATION

        6.1    Borrowers' Loan Account.    Lender shall maintain one or more loan account(s) on its books in which shall be recorded (a) all Loans, Letter of Credit Accommodations and other Obligations and the Collateral, (b) all payments made by or on behalf of Borrowers and (c) all other appropriate debits and credits as provided in this Agreement, including fees, charges, costs, expenses and interest. All entries in the loan account(s) shall be made in accordance with Lender's customary practices as in effect from time to time.

        6.2    Statements.    Lender shall render to Borrowers each month a statement setting forth the balance in the Borrowers' loan account(s) maintained by Lender for Borrowers pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, including principal, interest, fees, costs and expenses. Each such statement shall be subject to subsequent adjustment by Lender but shall, absent manifest errors or omissions, be considered correct and deemed accepted by Borrowers and conclusively binding upon Borrowers as an account stated except to the extent that Lender receives a written notice from Borrowers of any specific exceptions of Borrowers thereto within thirty (30) days after the date such statement has been mailed by Lender. Until such time as Lender shall have rendered to Borrowers a written statement as provided above, the balance in Borrowers' loan account(s) shall be presumptive evidence of the amounts due and owing to Lender by Borrowers.

        6.3    Collection of Accounts.    

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        6.4    Payments.    

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        6.5    Authorization to Make Loans.    Lender is authorized to make the Loans and provide the Letter of Credit Accommodations based upon telephonic or other instructions received from anyone purporting to be an officer of any Borrower or other authorized person or, at the discretion of Lender, if such Loans are necessary to satisfy any Obligations. All requests for Loans or Letter of Credit Accommodations hereunder shall specify the date on which the requested advance is to be made or Letter of Credit Accommodations established (which day shall be a Business Day) and the amount of the requested Loan. Requests received after 11:00 a.m. Los Angeles time on any day shall be deemed to have been made as of the opening of business on the immediately following Business Day. All Loans and Letter of Credit Accommodations under this Agreement shall be conclusively presumed to have been made to, and at the request of and for the benefit of, Borrowers when deposited to the credit of any Borrower or otherwise disbursed or established in accordance with the instructions of Borrowers or in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

        6.6    Use of Proceeds.    Borrowers shall use the initial proceeds of the Loans provided by Lender to Borrowers hereunder only for: (a) payments to each of the persons listed in the disbursement direction letter furnished by Borrowers to Lender on or about the date hereof and (b) costs, expenses and fees in connection with the preparation, negotiation, execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements. All other Loans made or Letter of Credit Accommodations provided by Lender to Borrowers pursuant to the provisions hereof shall be used by Borrowers only for general operating, working capital and other proper corporate purposes of Borrowers not otherwise prohibited by the terms hereof. None of the proceeds will be used, directly or indirectly, for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any margin security or for the purposes of reducing or retiring any indebtedness which was originally incurred to purchase or carry any margin security or for any other purpose which might cause any of the Loans to be considered a "purpose credit" within the meaning of Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, as amended.

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        SECTION 7. COLLATERAL REPORTING AND COLLATERAL COVENANTS

        7.1    Collateral Reporting.    

        7.2    Accounts Covenants.    

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        7.3    Inventory Covenants.    With respect to the Inventory: (a) Borrowers shall at all times maintain inventory records reasonably satisfactory to Lender, keeping correct and accurate records itemizing and describing the kind, type, quality and quantity of Inventory, Borrowers' cost therefor and daily withdrawals therefrom and additions thereto; (b) Borrowers shall conduct a physical count of the Inventory at least once each year, but at any time or times as Lender may request on or after an Event of Default, and promptly following such physical inventory shall supply Lender with a report in the form and with such specificity as may be reasonably satisfactory to Lender concerning such physical count; (c) Borrowers shall not remove any Inventory from the locations set forth or permitted herein, without the prior written consent of Lender, except for sales of Inventory in the ordinary course of Borrowers' business and except to move Inventory directly from one location set forth or permitted herein to another such location and except for Inventory shipped from the manufacturer thereof to any Borrower which is in transit to the locations set forth or permitted herein; (d) upon Lender's request, Borrowers shall, at their expense, no more than once in any twelve (12) month period in which no Availability Triggering Event occurs or twice in any twelve (12) month period during which an Availability Triggering Event occurs or an Availability Compliance Period (related to an Availability Triggering Event) exists, but at any time or times as Lender may request on or after an Event of Default, deliver or cause to be delivered to Lender written appraisals as to the Inventory in form, scope and methodology acceptable to Lender and by an appraiser acceptable to Lender, addressed to Lender and upon which Lender is expressly permitted to rely; (e) Borrowers shall produce, use, store and maintain the Inventory with all reasonable care and caution and in accordance with applicable standards of any insurance and in conformity with applicable laws (including the requirements of the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended and all rules, regulations and orders related thereto); (f) none of the Inventory or other Collateral constitutes farm products or the proceeds thereof; (g) Borrowers assume all responsibility and liability arising from or relating to the production, use, sale or other disposition of the Inventory; (h) Borrowers shall not sell Inventory to any customer on approval, or any other basis which entitles the customer to return or may obligate any Borrower to repurchase such Inventory; (i) Borrowers shall keep the Inventory in good and marketable condition; and (j) Borrowers shall not, without prior written notice to Lender or the specific identification of such Inventory with respect thereto provided by Borrowers to Lender pursuant to Section 7.1(a) hereof, acquire or accept any Inventory on consignment or approval.

        7.4    Equipment Covenants.    With respect to the Equipment: (a) Borrowers shall keep the Equipment in good order, repair, running and marketable condition (ordinary wear and tear excepted); (b) Borrowers shall use the Equipment with all reasonable care and caution and in accordance with

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applicable standards of any insurance and in conformity with all applicable laws; (c) the Equipment is and shall be used in Borrowers' business and not for personal, family, household or farming use; (d) Borrowers shall not remove any Equipment from the locations set forth or permitted herein, except (i) to the extent necessary to have any Equipment repaired or maintained in the ordinary course of the business of Borrowers, (ii) to move Equipment directly from one location set forth or permitted herein to another such location, (iii) motor vehicles used by or for the benefit of Borrowers in the ordinary course of business; and (iv) to move Equipment between Borrowers' store locations in the United States and Canada or to "shop-in-shop" locations operated by Borrowers' customers in the United States and Canada, (e) the Equipment is now and shall remain personal property and Borrowers shall not permit any of the Equipment to be or become a part of or affixed to real property; and (f) Borrowers assume all responsibility and liability arising from the use of the Equipment.

        7.5    Power of Attorney.    Borrowers hereby irrevocably designate and appoint Lender (and all persons designated by Lender) as each Borrower's true and lawful attorney-in-fact, and authorizes Lender, in such Borrower's or Lender's name, to: (a) at any time an Event of Default exists or has occurred and is continuing (i) demand payment on Receivables or other Collateral, (ii) enforce payment of Receivables by legal proceedings or otherwise, (iii) exercise all of Borrowers' rights and remedies to collect any Receivable or other Collateral, (iv) sell or assign any Receivable upon such terms, for such amount and at such time or times as the Lender deems advisable, (v) settle, adjust, compromise, extend or renew an Account, (vi) discharge and release any Receivable, (vii) prepare, file and sign any Borrower's name on any proof of claim in bankruptcy or other similar document against an account debtor or other obligor in respect of any Receivables or other Collateral, (viii) notify the post office authorities to change the address for delivery of remittances from account debtors or other obligors in respect of Receivables or other proceeds of Collateral to an address designated by Lender, and open and dispose of all mail addressed to any Borrower and handle and store all mail relating to the Collateral, (ix) do all acts and things which are necessary, in Lender's determination, to fulfill Borrowers' obligations under this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements, (x) endorse any Borrower's name upon any warehouse or other receipts, or bills of lading and other negotiable or non-negotiable documents or other chattel paper, document, instrument, invoice and similar document or agreement relating to any Inventory or Equipment or any goods pertaining thereto or any other Collateral, and (xi) clear Inventory the purchase of which was financed with Letter of Credit Accommodations through U.S. Customs or foreign export control authorities in any Borrower's name, Lender's name or the name of Lender's designee, and to sign and deliver to customs officials powers of attorney in any Borrower's name for such purpose, and to complete in any Borrower's or Lender's name, any order, sale or transaction, obtain the necessary documents in connection therewith and collect the proceeds thereof, (b) at any time an Event of Default exists or has occurred and is continuing or during an Availability Compliance Period (related to an Availability Triggering Event), (i) take control in any manner of any item of payment in respect of Receivables or constituting Collateral or otherwise received in or for deposit in the Blocked Accounts or otherwise received by Lender, (ii) have access to any lockbox or postal box into which remittances from account debtors or other obligors in respect of Receivables or other proceeds of Collateral are sent or received, (iii) endorse any Borrower's name upon any items of payment in respect of Receivables or constituting Collateral or otherwise received by Lender and deposit the same in Lender's account for application to the Obligations, and (iv) endorse any Borrower's name upon any chattel paper, instrument, invoice, or similar document or agreement relating to any Receivable, and (c) at any time to sign any Borrower's name on any verification of Receivables and notices thereof to account debtors or any secondary obligors or other obligors in respect thereof. Borrowers hereby release Lender and its officers, employees and designees from any liabilities arising from any act or acts under this power of attorney and in furtherance thereof, whether of omission or commission, except as a result of Lender's own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined pursuant to a final non-appealable order of a court of competent jurisdiction.

        7.6    Right to Cure.    Lender may, at its option, (a) upon notice to Borrowers, cure any default by Borrowers under any material agreement with a third party that affects the Collateral, its value or the

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ability of Lender to collect, sell or otherwise dispose of the Collateral or the rights and remedies of Lender therein or the ability of Borrowers to perform its obligations hereunder or under the other Financing Agreements, (b) pay or bond on appeal any judgment entered against any Borrower, (c) discharge taxes, liens, security interests or other encumbrances at any time levied on or existing with respect to the Collateral and (d) pay any amount, incur any expense or perform any act which, in Lender's judgment, is necessary or appropriate to preserve, protect, insure or maintain the Collateral and the rights of Lender with respect thereto. Lender may add any amounts so expended to the Obligations and charge Borrowers' account therefor, such amounts to be repayable by Borrowers on demand. Lender shall be under no obligation to effect such cure, payment or bonding and shall not, by doing so, be deemed to have assumed any obligation or liability of Borrowers. Any payment made or other action taken by Lender under this Section shall be without prejudice to any right to assert an Event of Default hereunder and to proceed accordingly.

        7.7    Access to Premises.    From time to time as requested by Lender, at the cost and expense of Borrowers, (a) Lender or its designee shall have complete access to all of Borrowers' premises during normal business hours and after notice to Borrowers, or at any time and without notice to Borrowers if an Event of Default exists or has occurred and is continuing, for the purposes of inspecting, verifying and auditing the Collateral and all of Borrowers' books and records, including the Records, and (b) Borrowers shall promptly furnish to Lender such copies of such books and records or extracts therefrom as Lender may request, and (c) Lender or its designee may use during normal business hours such of Borrowers' personnel, equipment, supplies and premises as may be reasonably necessary for the foregoing and if an Event of Default exists or has occurred and is continuing for the collection of Receivables and realization of other Collateral.

        SECTION 8. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

        Borrowers hereby represents and warrants to Lender the following (which shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement), the truth and accuracy of which are a continuing condition of the making of Loans and providing Letter of Credit Accommodations by Lender to Borrowers:

        8.1    Corporate Existence; Power and Authority.    Each Borrower is a corporation duly organized and in good standing under the laws of its state of incorporation and is duly qualified as a foreign corporation and in good standing in all states or other jurisdictions where the nature and extent of the business transacted by it or the ownership of assets makes such qualification necessary, except for those jurisdictions in which the failure to so qualify would not have a material adverse effect on Borrowers' financial condition, results of operation or business or the rights of Lender in or to any of the Collateral. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the other Financing Agreements and the transactions contemplated hereunder and thereunder (a) are all within each Borrower's corporate powers, (b) have been duly authorized, (c) are not in contravention of law or the terms of any Borrower's certificate of incorporation, by-laws, or other organizational documentation, or any indenture, agreement or undertaking to which any Borrower is a party or by which any Borrower or its property are bound and (d) will not result in the creation or imposition of, or require or give rise to any obligation to grant, any lien, security interest, charge or other encumbrance upon any property of any Borrower. This Agreement and the other Financing Agreements constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of Borrowers enforceable in accordance with their respective terms.

        8.2    Name; State of Organization; Chief Executive Office; Collateral Locations.    

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        8.3    Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Change.    All financial statements relating to Borrowers which have been or may hereafter be delivered by Borrowers to Lender have been prepared in accordance with GAAP (except as to any interim financial statements, to the extent such statements are subject to normal year-end adjustments and do not include any notes) and fairly present the financial condition and the results of operation of Borrowers as at the dates and for the periods set forth therein. Except as disclosed in any interim financial statements furnished by Borrowers to Lender prior to the date of this Agreement, there has been no Material Adverse Change since the date of the most recent audited financial statements furnished by Borrowers to Lender prior to the date of this Agreement.

        8.4    Priority of Liens; Title to Properties.    The security interests and liens granted to Lender under this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements constitute valid and perfected first priority liens and security interests in and upon the Collateral subject only to the liens indicated on Schedule 8.4 hereto and the other liens permitted under Section 9.8 hereof. Each Borrower has good, valid and merchantable title to all of its other properties and assets subject to no liens, mortgages, pledges, security interests, encumbrances or charges of any kind, except those granted to Lender and such others as are specifically listed on Schedule 8.4 hereto or permitted under Section 9.8 hereof.

        8.5    Tax Returns.    Borrowers have filed, or caused to be filed, in a timely manner all tax returns, reports and declarations which are required to be filed by them or any of them. All information in such tax returns, reports and declarations is complete and accurate in all material respects. Borrowers have paid or caused to be paid all taxes due and payable or claimed due and payable in any assessment received by any of them, except taxes the validity of which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently pursued and available to Borrowers and with respect to which adequate reserves have been set aside on their books. Adequate provision has been made for the payment of all accrued and unpaid Federal, State, county, local, foreign and other taxes whether or not yet due and payable and whether or not disputed.

        8.6    Litigation.    Except as set forth in the Information Certificate, there is no present investigation by any Governmental Authority pending, or to the best of Borrowers' knowledge threatened, against or affecting any Borrower, its assets or business and there is no action, suit, proceeding or claim by any Person pending, or to the best of Borrowers' knowledge threatened, against any Borrower or its assets or goodwill, or against or affecting any transactions contemplated by this Agreement, which if adversely determined against any Borrower would result in any Material Adverse Change.

        8.7    Compliance with Other Agreements and Applicable Laws.    No Borrower is, in any material respect, in default under, or in violation of any of the terms of, any agreement, contract, instrument, lease or other commitment to which it is a party or by which it or any of its assets are bound and each Borrower is in compliance in all material respects with all applicable provisions of laws, rules, regulations, licenses, permits, approvals and orders of any foreign, Federal, State or local Governmental Authority.

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        8.8    Environmental Compliance.    

        8.9    Employee Benefits.    

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        8.10    Intellectual Property.    Each Borrower owns or licenses or otherwise has the right to use all Intellectual Property necessary for the operation of its business as presently conducted or proposed to be conducted. As of the date hereof, Borrowers do not have any Intellectual Property registered, or subject to pending applications, in the United States Patent and Trademark Office or any similar office or agency in the United States, any State thereof, any political subdivision thereof or in any other country, other than those described in the Information Certificate hereto and have not granted any licenses with respect thereto other than as set forth in the Information Certificate. No event has occurred which permits or would permit after notice or passage of time or both, the revocation, suspension or termination of such rights. To the best of Borrowers' knowledge, no slogan or other advertising device, product, process, method, substance or other Intellectual Property or goods bearing or using any Intellectual Property presently contemplated to be sold by or employed by any Borrower infringes any patent, trademark, servicemark, tradename, copyright, license or other Intellectual Property owned by any other Person presently and no claim or litigation is pending or threatened against or affecting any Borrower contesting its right to sell or use any such Intellectual Property. The Information Certificate sets forth all of the agreements or other arrangements of Borrowers pursuant to which any Borrower has a license or other right to use any trademarks, logos, designs, representations or other Intellectual Property owned by another person as in effect on the date hereof and the dates of the expiration of such agreements or other arrangements of Borrowers as in effect on the date hereof (collectively, together with such agreements or other arrangements as may be entered into by Borrowers after the date hereof, collectively, the "License Agreements" and individually, a "License Agreement"). No trademark, servicemark or other Intellectual Property at any time used by any Borrower which is owned by another person, or owned by any Borrower subject to any security interest, lien, collateral assignment, pledge or other encumbrance in favor of any person other than Lender, is affixed to any Eligible Inventory, except pursuant to a Securitization as permitted in this Agreement.

        8.11    Subsidiaries; Affiliates; Capitalization; Solvency.    

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        8.12    Labor Disputes.    

        8.13    Restrictions on Subsidiaries.    Except for restrictions contained in this Agreement, the Securitization Documents or any other agreement with respect to Indebtedness of Borrowers permitted hereunder as in effect on the date hereof, there are no contractual or consensual restrictions on any Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries which prohibit or otherwise restrict (a) the transfer of cash or other assets (i) between such Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) between any Subsidiaries of such Borrower or (b) the ability of such Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to incur Indebtedness or grant security interests to Lender in the Collateral.

        8.14    Material Contracts.    Schedule 8.14 hereto sets forth all Material Contracts to which any Borrower is a party or is bound as of the date hereof. Borrowers have delivered true, correct and complete copies of such Material Contracts to Lender on or before the date hereof. No Borrower is in breach of or in default under any Material Contract and no Borrower has received any notice of the intention of any other party thereto to terminate any Material Contract.

        8.15    Payable Practices.    No Borrower has made any material change in the historical accounts payable practices from those in effect immediately prior to the date hereof.

        8.16    Accuracy and Completeness of Information.    All information furnished by or on behalf of Borrowers in writing to Lender in connection with this Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements or any transaction contemplated hereby or thereby, including all information on the Information Certificate, is true and correct in all material respects on the date as of which such information is dated or certified and does not omit any material fact necessary in order to make such information not misleading. No event or circumstance has occurred which has had or could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, assets or prospects of Borrowers, which has not been fully and accurately disclosed to Lender in writing.

        8.17    Survival of Warranties; Cumulative.    All representations and warranties contained in this Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and shall be deemed to have been made again to Lender on the date of each additional borrowing or other credit accommodation hereunder and shall be conclusively presumed to have been relied on by Lender regardless of any investigation made or information possessed by Lender. The representations and warranties set forth herein shall be cumulative and in addition to any other representations or warranties which Borrowers shall now or hereafter give, or cause to be given, to Lender.

        SECTION 9.    AFFIRMATIVE AND NEGATIVE COVENANTS

        9.1    Maintenance of Existence.    

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        9.2    New Collateral Locations.    

        9.3    Compliance with Laws, Regulations, Etc.    

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        9.4    Payment of Taxes and Claims.    Borrowers shall, and shall cause any Subsidiary to, duly pay and discharge all taxes, assessments, contributions and governmental charges upon or against it or its properties or assets, except for taxes the validity of which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently pursued and available to Borrowers or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, and with respect to which adequate reserves have been set aside on its books. Borrowers shall be liable for any tax or penalties imposed on Lender as a result of the financing arrangements provided for herein and Borrowers agree to indemnify and hold Lender harmless with respect to the foregoing, and to repay to Lender on demand the amount thereof, and until paid by Borrowers such amount shall be added and deemed part of the Loans, provided, that nothing contained herein shall be construed to require Borrowers to pay any income or franchise taxes attributable to the income of Lender from any amounts charged or paid hereunder to Lender. The foregoing indemnity shall survive the payment of the Obligations and the termination or non-renewal of this Agreement.

        9.5    Insurance.    Borrowers shall, and shall cause any Subsidiary to, at all times, maintain with financially sound and reputable insurers insurance with respect to the Collateral against loss or damage

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and all other insurance of the kinds and in the amounts customarily insured against or carried by corporations of established reputation engaged in the same or similar businesses and similarly situated. Said policies of insurance shall be satisfactory to Lender as to form, amount and insurer. Borrowers shall furnish certificates, policies or endorsements to Lender as Lender shall require as proof of such insurance, and, if Borrowers fail to do so, Lender is authorized, but not required, to obtain such insurance at the expense of Borrowers. All policies shall provide for at least thirty (30) days (ten (10) days for nonpayment of premium) prior written notice to Lender of any cancellation or reduction of coverage and that Lender may act as attorney for any Borrower at any time an Event of Default exists or has occurred and is continuing, in obtaining, adjusting, settling, amending and canceling such insurance. Borrowers shall cause Lender to be named as a loss payee and an additional insured (but without any liability for any premiums) under such insurance policies and Borrower shall obtain non-contributory lender's loss payable endorsements to all insurance policies in form and substance satisfactory to Lender. Such lender's loss payable endorsements shall specify that the proceeds of such insurance shall be payable to Lender and the named insured as their interests may appear and further specify that Lender shall be paid regardless of any act or omission by any Borrower or any of its Affiliates. At its option, Lender may apply any insurance proceeds received by Lender at any time to the cost of repairs or replacement of Collateral and/or to payment of the Obligations, whether or not then due, in any order and in such manner as Lender may determine or hold such proceeds as cash collateral for the Obligations.

        9.6    Financial Statements and Other Information.    

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        9.7    Sale of Assets, Consolidation, Merger, Dissolution, Etc.    No Borrower shall, and no Borrower shall permit any Domestic Subsidiary to (and Lender does not authorize any Borrower to), directly or indirectly,

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        9.8    Encumbrances.    No Borrower shall, and no Borrower shall permit any Domestic Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume, suffer or permit to exist any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, charge or other encumbrance of any nature whatsoever on any of its assets or properties, including the Collateral, except: (a) the security interests and liens of Lender; (b) liens securing the payment of taxes, either not yet overdue or the validity of which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently pursued and available to such Borrower or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, and with respect to which adequate reserves have been set aside on its books; (c) non-consensual statutory liens (other than liens securing the payment of taxes) arising in the ordinary course of such Borrower's or such Subsidiary's business to the extent: (i) such liens secure Indebtedness or other obligations of such Borrower which is not overdue or (ii) such liens secure Indebtedness relating to claims or liabilities which are fully insured and being defended at the sole cost and expense and at the sole risk of the insurer or being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently pursued and available to such Borrower or such Subsidiary, in each case prior to the commencement of foreclosure or other similar proceedings and with respect to which adequate reserves have been set aside on its books; (d) zoning restrictions, easements, licenses, covenants and other restrictions affecting the use of real property which do not interfere in any material respect with the use of such real property or ordinary conduct of the business of such Borrower or such Subsidiary as presently conducted thereon; (e) purchase money security interests in Equipment (including Capital Leases) to secure Indebtedness permitted under Section 9.9(b) hereof; (f) mortgages on real property, (g) the security interests and liens set forth on Schedule 8.4 hereto, (h) pledges or deposits in connection with workers' compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security legislation, (i) any interest or title of a licensee or licensor under any license entered into by a Borrower in the ordinary course of

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business, (j) liens on property acquired after the date hereof (including liens on property of a Subsidiary acquired after the date hereof) securing Indebtedness permitted under Section 9.9 but only if such lien was not created in contemplation of such acquisition and is limited in scope to the property so acquired, (k) deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts (other than for borrowed money), leases, customer, appeal and performance bonds and other like obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business and (1) security interests and liens on assets of a SPE in connection with a Securitization.

        9.9    Indebtedness.    No Borrower shall, and no Borrower shall permit any Domestic Subsidiary to, incur, create, assume, become or be liable in any manner with respect to, suffer or permit to exist, any Indebtedness or guarantee, assume, endorse, or otherwise become responsible for (directly or indirectly) the performance, dividends or other obligations of any Person, except:

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        9.10    Loans, Investments, Etc.    No Borrower shall, and no Borrower shall permit any Domestic Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, make, or suffer or permit to exist, any loans or advances of money or property to any person, or any investment in (by capital contribution, dividend or otherwise), or purchase or repurchase the Capital Stock or Indebtedness or all or a substantial part of the assets or property of any person, or form or acquire any Subsidiaries, or agree to do any of the foregoing, except:

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        9.11    Dividends and Redemptions.    Parent shall not, directly or indirectly, declare or pay any dividends on account of any shares of class of any of its Capital Stock now or hereafter outstanding, or set aside or otherwise deposit or invest any sums for such purpose, or redeem, retire, defease, purchase or otherwise acquire any shares of any class of Capital Stock (or set aside or otherwise deposit or invest any sums for such purpose) for any consideration or apply or set apart any sum, or make any other distribution (by reduction of capital or otherwise) in respect of any such shares or agree to do any of the foregoing, except in accordance with Section 9.12 or except in any case in the form of shares of Capital Stock consisting of common stock.

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        9.12    Further Restriction on Loans, Investments, Dividends and Redemptions.    Borrowers may (i) make the investments referred to in Section 9.10(f)(iii)(2) and 9.10(g)(v)(3), (ii) redeem the Subordinated Notes under Section 9.10(l)(ii), (iii) make the loans to suppliers or licensees referred to in Section 9.10(m), or (iv) take any action with respect to Capital Stock referred to in Section 9.11 only to the extent that (A) the amount expended in connection with or set aside for all such purposes shall not exceed in the aggregate Thirty-five Million Dollars ($35,000,000) plus twenty-five percent (25%) of the amount of net profits after tax reported on the consolidated financial statements of Parent prepared in accordance with GAAP for each fiscal year during the term of this Agreement, (B) Excess Availability (y) shall be not less than Twenty Million Dollars ($20,000,000) immediately after each such action and (z) for each of the immediately preceding thirty (30) consecutive days shall have been not less than Twenty Million Dollars ($20,000,000), and (C) no Default or Availability Compliance Period (related to an Availability Triggering Event) exists and no Default or Availability Triggering Event would be caused by the proposed action.

        9.13    Transactions with Affiliates.    No Borrower shall, directly or indirectly, (a) purchase, acquire or lease any property from, or sell, transfer or lease any property to, any officer, director, agent or other person affiliated with any Borrower (other than another Borrower or a Subsidiary of a Borrower), except in the ordinary course of and pursuant to the reasonable requirements of Borrowers' business and upon fair and reasonable terms no less favorable to such Borrower than such Borrower would obtain in a comparable arm's length transaction with an unaffiliated person, except transactions relating to Shareholders Agreement to which Parent is a party or (b) make any payments of management, consulting or other fees for management or similar services, or of any Indebtedness owing to any officer, employee, shareholder, director or other Affiliate of any Borrower except any Borrower may (i) pay reasonable compensation to officers, employees and directors for services rendered to such Borrower in the ordinary course of business; (ii) pay expenses or make loans and advances to officers, employees and directors for bona fide business purposes, including but not limited to indemnification permitted under such Borrower's Bylaws, relocation, stock option exercises, travel or otherwise consistent with past practice; and (iii) satisfy obligations of such Borrower under transactions described in the notes to the consolidated financial statements of Parent for the year ended December 31, 2001, and continuations, renewals or extensions thereof in an amount not exceeding one hundred fifty percent (150%) in the aggregate of the original amount of such obligations without Lender's prior written consent which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

        9.14    Compliance with ERISA.    Borrowers shall and shall cause each of Borrowers' ERISA Affiliates to: (a) maintain each Plan (other than a Multiemployer Plan) in compliance in all material respects with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and other Federal and State law; (b) cause each Plan which is qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code to maintain such qualification; (c) not terminate any of such Plans so as to incur any material liability to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation; (d) not allow or suffer to exist any prohibited transaction involving any of such Plans or any trust created thereunder which would subject any Borrower or such ERISA Affiliate to a material tax or penalty or other material liability on prohibited transactions imposed under Section 4975 of the Code or ERISA; (e) make all required contributions to any Plan which it is obligated to pay under Section 302 of ERISA, Section 412 of the Code or the terms of such Plan; (f) not allow or suffer to exist any accumulated funding deficiency, whether or not waived, with respect to any such Plan; or (g) not allow or suffer to exist any occurrence of a reportable event or any other event or condition which presents a material risk of termination by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation of any such Plan that is a single employer plan, which termination could result in any material liability to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

        9.15    End of Fiscal Years, Fiscal Quarters.    Parent shall, for financial reporting purposes, cause its, and each of its Subsidiaries' (a) fiscal years to end on December 31 or the Saturday or Sunday closest

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to December 31 of each year and (b) fiscal quarters to end on the Saturday closest to each calendar quarter end.

        9.16    Change in Business.    Borrowers shall not engage in any business other than the business of Borrowers on the date hereof and any business reasonably related, ancillary or complimentary to the business in which Borrowers are engaged on the date hereof.

        9.17    Limitation of Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries.    Borrowers shall not, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist any encumbrance or restriction which prohibits or limits the ability of any Domestic Subsidiary of any Borrower to (a) pay dividends or make other distributions or pay any Indebtedness owed to any Borrower or any Subsidiary of any Borrower; (b) make loans or advances to any Borrower or any Subsidiary of any Borrower, (c) transfer any of its properties or assets to any Borrower or any Subsidiary of any Borrower; or (d) create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any lien upon any of its property, assets or revenues, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, other than encumbrances and restrictions arising under (i) applicable law, (ii) this Agreement, (iii) customary provisions restricting subletting or assignment of any lease governing a leasehold interest of any Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, (iv) customary restrictions on dispositions of real property interests found in reciprocal easement agreements of any Borrower or its Subsidiary, (v) any agreement relating to permitted Indebtedness incurred by a Subsidiary of any Borrower prior to the date on which such Subsidiary was acquired by such Borrower and outstanding on such acquisition date, (vi) any Securitization Documents and (vii) the extension or continuation of contractual obligations in existence on the date hereof; provided, that any such encumbrances or restrictions contained in such extension or continuation are no less favorable to Lender than those encumbrances and restrictions under or pursuant to the contractual obligations so extended or continued.

        9.18    Net Worth.    Borrowers shall, at all times through and including June 30, 2004, maintain Adjusted Tangible Net Worth of not less than One Hundred Million Dollars ($100,000,000) and shall, at all times after June 30, 2004 maintain Net Worth of not less than One Hundred Ten Million Dollars ($110,000,000). Compliance with the requirements of this section will be tested for each fiscal quarter upon delivery of the financial statements as of the end of such fiscal quarter; provided that such compliance will not be tested except during any Availability Compliance Period (related to an Availability Triggering Event).

        9.19    License Agreements.    

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        9.20    Costs and Expenses.    Borrowers shall pay to Lender on demand all the actual costs and reasonable expenses, filing fees and taxes paid or payable in connection with the preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery, recording, administration, collection, liquidation, enforcement and defense of the Obligations, Lender's rights in the Collateral, this Agreement, the other Financing Agreements and all other documents related hereto or thereto, including any amendments, supplements or consents which may hereafter be contemplated (whether or not executed) or entered into in respect hereof and thereof, including: (a) all the actual costs and expenses of filing or recording (including Uniform Commercial Code financing statement filing taxes and fees, documentary taxes, intangibles taxes and mortgage recording taxes and fees, if applicable); (b) all the actual costs and expenses and fees for insurance premiums, environmental audits, surveys, assessments, engineering reports and inspections, appraisal fees and search fees, actual costs and expenses of remitting loan proceeds, collecting checks and other items of payment, and establishing and maintaining the Blocked Accounts, together with Lender's customary charges and fees with respect thereto; (c) charges, fees or expenses charged by any bank or issuer in connection with the Letter of Credit Accommodations; (d) actual costs and reasonable expenses of preserving and protecting the Collateral; (e) actual costs and reasonable expenses paid or incurred in connection with obtaining payment of the Obligations, enforcing the security interests and liens of Lender, selling or otherwise realizing upon the Collateral, and otherwise enforcing the provisions of this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements or defending any claims made or threatened against Lender arising out of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including preparations for and consultations concerning any such matters); (f) all out-of-pocket expenses and costs heretofore and from time to time hereafter incurred by Lender during the course of periodic field examinations of the Collateral and Borrowers' operations, plus a per diem charge at the rate of Eight Hundred Dollars ($800) per person per day for Lender's examiners in the field and office, provided that Borrowers shall be required to pay for only two (2) such field audits in any twelve (12) month period unless an Event of Default or an Availability Triggering Event occurs; (g) all actual costs and expenses in connection with background investigations of the principals of Borrowers; and (h) the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel (including legal assistants) to Lender in connection with the preparation of this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements or any of the foregoing. The amount of any deposit given by Borrowers to Lender in connection with this

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Agreement remaining after payment of all fees, costs and expenses incurred by Lender in connection with any audit or field examination of Borrowers and their Subsidiaries and Affiliates or the preparation and negotiation of the Financing Documents shall be applied against the amounts owing under this Section 9.20.

        9.21    Further Assurances.    At the request of Lender at any time and from time to time, Borrowers shall, at their expense, duly execute and deliver, or cause to be duly executed and delivered, such further agreements, documents and instruments, and do or cause to be done such further acts as may be necessary or proper to evidence, perfect, maintain and enforce the security interests and the priority thereof in the Collateral and to otherwise effectuate the provisions or purposes of this Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements. Lender may at any time and from time to time request a certificate from an officer of any Borrower representing that all conditions precedent to the making of Loans and providing Letter of Credit Accommodations contained herein are satisfied. In the event of such request by Lender, Lender may, at its option, cease to make any further Loans or provide any further Letter of Credit Accommodations until Lender has received such certificate and, in addition, Lender has determined that such conditions are satisfied.

        SECTION 10.    EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

        10.1    Events of Default.    The occurrence or existence of any one or more of the following events are referred to herein individually as an "Event of Default", and collectively as "Events of Default":

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        10.2    Remedies.    

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        SECTION 11.    JURY TRIAL WAIVER; OTHER WAIVERS AND CONSENTS; GOVERNING LAW

        11.1    Governing Law; Choice of Forum; Service of Process; Jury Trial Waiver.    

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        11.2    Waiver of Notices.    Borrowers hereby expressly waive demand, presentment, protest and notice of protest and notice of dishonor with respect to any and all instruments and chattel paper, included in or evidencing any of the Obligations or the Collateral, and any and all other demands and notices of any kind or nature whatsoever with respect to the Obligations, the Collateral and this Agreement, except such as are expressly provided for herein. No notice to or demand on Borrowers which Lender may elect to give shall entitle Borrowers to any other or further notice or demand in the same, similar or other circumstances.

        11.3    Amendments and Waivers.    Neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof shall be amended, modified, waived or discharged orally or by course of conduct, but only by a written agreement signed by an authorized officer of Lender, and as to amendments, as also signed by an authorized officers of Borrowers. Lender shall not, by any act, delay, omission or otherwise be deemed to have expressly or impliedly waived any of its rights, powers and/or remedies unless such waiver shall be in writing and signed by an authorized officer of Lender. Any such waiver shall be enforceable only to the extent specifically set forth therein. A waiver by Lender of any right, power and/or remedy on any one occasion shall not be construed as a bar to or waiver of any such right, power and/or remedy which Lender would otherwise have on any future occasion, whether similar in kind or otherwise.

        11.4    Waiver of Counterclaims.    Borrowers waive all rights to interpose any claims, deductions, setoffs or counterclaims of any nature (other than compulsory counterclaims) in any action or proceeding with respect to this Agreement, the Obligations, the Collateral or any matter arising therefrom or relating hereto or thereto.

        11.5    Indemnification.    Borrowers shall indemnify and hold Lender, and its directors, agents, employees and counsel, harmless from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs or expenses imposed on, incurred by or asserted against any of them in connection with any litigation, investigation, claim or proceeding commenced or threatened related to the negotiation, preparation, execution, delivery, enforcement, performance or administration of this Agreement, any other Financing Agreements, or any undertaking or proceeding related to any of the transactions contemplated hereby or any act, omission, event or transaction related or attendant thereto, including amounts paid in settlement, court costs, and the fees and expenses of counsel except for losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs and expenses arising from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of any such indemnified party as determined pursuant to a final, non-appealable order of a court of competent jurisdiction. To the extent that the undertaking to indemnify, pay and hold harmless set forth in this Section may be unenforceable because it violates any law or public policy, Borrowers shall pay the maximum portion which it is permitted to pay under applicable law to Lender in satisfaction of indemnified matters under this Section. The foregoing indemnity shall survive the payment of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

        SECTION 12.    TERM OF AGREEMENT; MISCELLANEOUS

        12.1    Term.    

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  Amount

   
  Period

(i)     one percent (1.00%) of the Maximum Credit     From the date hereof to and including September 26, 2003

(ii)

 


 

one-fourth percent (0.25%) of the Maximum Credit

 


 

From September 27, 2003 to and including September 26, 2005

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        12.2    Interpretive Provisions.    

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        12.3    Notices.    All notices, requests and demands hereunder shall be in writing and deemed to have been given or made: if delivered in person, immediately upon delivery; if by telex, telegram or facsimile transmission, immediately upon sending and upon confirmation of receipt; if by nationally recognized overnight courier service with instructions to deliver the next Business Day, one (1) Business Day after sending; and if by certified mail, return receipt requested, five (5) days after mailing. All notices, requests and demands upon the parties are to be given to the addresses designated on the signature page hereto or to such other address as any party may designate by notice in accordance with this Section.

        12.4    Partial Invalidity.    If any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not invalidate this Agreement as a whole, but this Agreement shall be construed as though it did not contain the particular provision held to be invalid or unenforceable and the rights and obligations of the parties shall be construed and enforced only to such extent as shall be permitted by applicable law.

        12.5    Successors.    This Agreement, the other Financing Agreements and any other document referred to herein or therein shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by Lender, Borrowers and their respective successors and assigns, except that Borrowers may not assign their rights under this Agreement, the other Financing Agreements and any other document referred to herein or therein without the prior written consent of Lender. Lender may, after notice to Borrowers, assign its rights and delegate its obligations under this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements and further may assign, or sell participations in, all or any part of the Loans, the Letter of Credit Accommodations or any other interest herein to another financial institution or other person, in which event, the assignee or participant shall have, to the extent of such assignment or participation, the same rights and benefits as it would have if it were the Lender hereunder, except as otherwise provided by the terms of such assignment or participation; provided, however, that if such financial institution is not domiciled in the United States or such financial institution and its Affiliates have assets of less than One Billion Dollars ($1,000,000,000) on a consolidated basis, Lender shall obtain a Borrower's prior written consent.

        12.6    Entire Agreement.    This Agreement, the other Financing Agreements, any supplements hereto or thereto, and any instruments or documents delivered or to be delivered in connection herewith or therewith represents the entire agreement and understanding concerning the subject matter hereof and thereof between the parties hereto, and supersede all other prior agreements, understandings, negotiations and discussions, representations, warranties, commitments, proposals, offers and contracts concerning the subject matter hereof, whether oral or written. In the event of any inconsistency between the terms of this Agreement and any schedule or exhibit hereto, the terms of this Agreement shall govern.

        12.7    Counterparts, Etc.    This Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart of this Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements by telefacsimile shall have the same force and effect as the delivery of an original executed counterpart of this Agreement or any of such other Financing Agreements. Any party delivering an executed counterpart of any such agreement by

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telefacsimile shall also deliver an original executed counterpart, but the failure to do so shall not affect the validity, enforceability or binding effect of such agreement.

        12.8    Confidentiality.    

        SECTION 13.    JOINT AND SEVERAL LIABILITY AND SURETYSHIP WAIVERS

        13.1    Independent Obligations; Subrogation.    The Obligations of each Borrower hereunder are joint and several. To the maximum extent permitted by law, each Borrower hereby waives any claim, right or remedy which either may now have or hereafter acquire against any other Borrower that arises hereunder including, without limitation, any claim, remedy or right of subrogation, reimbursement, exoneration, contribution, indemnification, or participation in any claim, right or remedy of Lender against any Borrower or any Collateral which Lender now has or hereafter acquires, whether or not such claim, right or remedy arises in equity, under contract, by statute, under common law or otherwise until the Obligations are fully paid and finally discharged. In addition, each Borrower hereby waives any right to proceed against the other Borrowers, now or hereafter, for contribution, indemnity, reimbursement, and any other suretyship rights and claims, whether direct or indirect, liquidated or contingent, whether arising under express or implied contract or by operation of law, which any Borrower may now have or hereafter have as against the other Borrowers with respect to the Obligations until the Obligations are fully paid and finally discharged. Each Borrower also hereby waives any rights of recourse to or with respect to any asset of the other Borrowers until the Obligations are fully paid and finally discharged.

        13.2    Authority to Modify Obligations and Security.    Each Borrower authorizes Lender, without notice or demand and without affecting any Borrower's liability hereunder, from time to time, whether before or after any notice of termination hereof or before or after any default in respect of the Obligations, to: (a) renew, extend, accelerate, or otherwise change the time for payment of, or otherwise change any other term or condition of, any document or agreement evidencing or relating to any Obligations as such Obligations relate to the other Borrowers, including, without limitation, to increase or decrease the rate of interest thereon; (b) accept, substitute, waive, defease, increase,

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release, exchange or otherwise alter any Collateral, in whole or in part, securing the other Borrowers' Obligations; (c) apply any and all such Collateral and direct the order or manner of sale thereof as Lender, in its sole discretion, may determine; (d) deal with the other Borrowers as Lender may elect; (e) in Lender's sole discretion, settle, release on terms satisfactory to Lender, or by operation of law or otherwise, compound, compromise, collect or otherwise liquidate any of the other Borrowers' Obligations and/or any of the Collateral in any manner, and bid and purchase any of the collateral at any sale thereof; (f) apply any and all payments or recoveries from the other Borrowers as Lender, in its sole discretion may determine, whether or not such indebtedness relates to the Obligations; all whether such Obligations are secured or unsecured or guaranteed or not guaranteed by others; and (g) apply any sums realized from Collateral furnished by the other Borrowers upon any of its indebtedness or obligations to Lender as it in its sole discretion may determine, whether or not such indebtedness relates to the Obligations; all without in any way diminishing, releasing or discharging the liability of any Borrower hereunder.

        13.3    Waiver of Defenses.    Upon an Event of Default by any Borrower in respect of any Obligations, and except as required in Section 726 of the California Code of Civil Procedure, Lender may, at its option and without additional notice to any Borrower, proceed directly against any Borrower to collect and recover the full amount of the liability hereunder, or any portion thereof, and each Borrower waives any right to require Lender to: (a) proceed against the other Borrowers or any other person whomsoever; (b) proceed against or exhaust any Collateral given to or held by Lender in connection with the Obligations; (c) give notice of the terms, time and place of any public or private sale of any of the Collateral except as otherwise provided herein; or (d) pursue any other remedy in Lender's power whatsoever. A separate action or actions may be brought and prosecuted against any Borrower whether or not action is brought against the other Borrowers and whether the other Borrowers be joined in any such action or actions; and each Borrower agrees that any payment of any Obligations or other act which shall toll any statute of limitations applicable thereto shall similarly operate to toll such statute of limitations applicable to the liability hereunder.

        13.4    Exercise of Lender's Rights.    Each Borrower hereby authorizes and empowers Lender in its sole discretion, without any notice or demand to such Borrower whatsoever and without affecting the liability of such Borrower hereunder, to exercise any right or remedy which Lender may have available to it against the other Borrowers.

        13.5    Additional Waivers.    Each Borrower waives any defense arising by reason of any disability or other defense of the other Borrowers or by reason of the cessation from any cause whatsoever of the liability of the other Borrowers or by reason of any act or omission of Lender or others which directly or indirectly results in or aids the discharge or release of the other Borrowers or any Obligations or any Collateral by operation of law or otherwise. The Obligations shall be enforceable against each Borrower without regard to the validity, regularity or enforceability of any of the Obligations with respect to any of the other Borrowers or any of the documents related thereto or any collateral security documents securing any of the Obligations. No exercise by Lender of, and no omission of Lender to exercise, any power or authority recognized herein and no impairment or suspension of any right or remedy of Lender against any Borrower or any Collateral shall in any way suspend, discharge, release, exonerate or otherwise affect any of the Obligations or any Collateral furnished by the Borrowers or give to the Borrowers any right of recourse against Lender. Each Borrower specifically agrees that the failure of Lender (a) to perfect any lien on or security interest in any property heretofore or hereafter given any Borrower to secure payment of the Obligations, or to record or file any document relating thereto or (b) to file or enforce a claim against the estate (either in administration, bankruptcy or other proceeding) of any Borrower, shall not in any manner whatsoever terminate, diminish, exonerate or otherwise affect the liability of any Borrower hereunder.

        13.6    Additional Indebtedness.    Additional Obligations may be created from time to time at the request of any Borrower and without further authorization from or notice to any other Borrowers even

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though the borrowing Borrowers' financial condition may deteriorate since the date hereof. Each Borrower waives the right, if any, to require Lender to disclose to such Borrower any information it may now have or hereafter acquire concerning the other Borrowers' character, credit, Collateral, financial condition or other matters. Each Borrower has established adequate means to obtain from the other Borrowers on a continuing basis financial and other information pertaining to such Borrower's business and affairs, and assumes the responsibility for being and keeping informed of the financial and other conditions of the other Borrowers and of all circumstances bearing upon the risk of nonpayment of the Obligations which diligent inquiry would reveal. Lender need not inquire into the powers of any Borrower or the authority of any of its officers, directors, partners or agents acting or purporting to act in its behalf, and any obligations created in reliance upon the purported exercise of such power or authority is hereby guaranteed. All obligations of each Borrower to Lender heretofore, now or hereafter created shall be deemed to have been granted at each Borrower's special insistence and request and in consideration of and in reliance upon this Agreement.

        13.7    Subordination.    Except as otherwise provided in this Section 13.7, any indebtedness of any Borrower now or hereafter owing to any other Borrowers is hereby subordinated to the Obligations, whether heretofore, now or hereafter created, and whether before or after notice of termination hereof, and, following the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, no Borrower shall, without the prior consent of Lender, pay in whole or in part any of such indebtedness nor will any such Borrower accept any payment of or on account of any such indebtedness at any time while such Borrower remains liable hereunder. At the request of Lender, after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, each Borrower shall pay to Lender all or any part of such subordinated indebtedness and any amount so paid to Lender at its request shall be applied to payment of the Obligations. Each payment on the indebtedness of any Borrower to the other Borrowers received in violation of any of the provisions hereof shall be deemed to have been received by any other Borrowers as trustee for Lender and shall be paid over to Lender immediately on account of the Obligations, but without otherwise affecting in any manner any such Borrower's liability under any of the provisions of this Agreement. Each Borrower agrees to file all claims against the other Borrowers in any bankruptcy or other proceeding in which the filing of claims is required by law in respect of any indebtedness of the other Borrowers to such Borrower, and Lender shall be entitled to all of any such Borrower's rights thereunder. If for any reason any such Borrower fails to file such claim at least thirty (30) days prior to the last date on which such claim should be filed, Lender, as such Borrower's attorney-in-fact, is hereby authorized to do so in Borrowers' name or, in Lender's discretion, to assign such claim to, and cause a proof of claim to be filed in the name of, Lender's nominee. In all such cases, whether in administration, bankruptcy or otherwise, the person or persons authorized to pay such claim shall pay to Lender the full amount payable on the claim in the proceeding, and to the full extent necessary for that purpose any such Borrower hereby assigns to Lender all such Borrower's rights to any payments or distributions to which such Borrower otherwise would be entitled. If the amount so paid is greater than any such Borrower's liability hereunder, Lender will pay the excess amount to the party entitled thereto.

        13.8    Revival.    If any payments of money or transfers of property made to Lender by any Borrower should for any reason subsequently be declared to be, or in Lender's counsel's good faith opinion be determined to be, fraudulent (within the meaning of any state or federal law relating to fraudulent conveyances), preferential or otherwise voidable or recoverable in whole or in part for any reason (hereinafter collectively called "voidable transfers") under the Bankruptcy Code or any other federal or state law and Lender is required to repay or restore, or in Lender's counsel's opinion may be so liable to repay or restore, any such voidable transfer, or the amount or any portion thereof, then as to any such voidable transfer or the amount repaid or restored and all reasonable costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) of Lender related thereto, such Borrower's liability hereunder shall automatically be revived, reinstated and restored and shall exist as though such voidable transfer had never been made to Lender.

        13.9    Understanding of Waivers.    Each Borrower warrants and agrees that the waivers set forth in this Section 13 are made with full knowledge of their significance and consequences. If any of such waivers are determined to be contrary to any applicable law or public policy, such waivers shall be effective only to the maximum extent permitted by law.

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        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Lender, the Arranger and Administrative Agent and Borrowers have caused these presents to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.

LENDER   BORROWERS
         
CONGRESS FINANCIAL CORPORATION (WESTERN)   GUESS ?, INC.
         
By:
  By:
Name:
  Name:
Title:
  Title:
         
Address For Notices:   Address for Notices:
         
251 South Lake Avenue, Suite 900
Pasadena, California 91101
  1444 South Alameda Street
Los Angeles, California 9021
Attn:
  Attn: Ralph W. Flick
Telephone: (626) 304-4900   Telephone: (213) 765-3210
Facsimile: (626) 304-4949   Facsimile: (213) 765-0911
         
      1444 South Alameda Street
Los Angeles, California 9021
      Attn: Frederick G. Silny
      Telephone: (213) 765-3504
      Facsimile: (213) 765-5927
         
THE ARRANGER AND ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT      
         
WACHOVIA SECURITIES, INC.   GUESS? RETAIL, INC.
         
By:
  By:
Name:
  Name:
Title:
  Title:
         
Address For Notices:   Address for Notices:
         

  1444 South Alameda Street

  Los Angeles, California 9021
Attn:
  Attn: Ralph W. Flick
Telephone:
  Telephone: (213) 765-3210
Facsimile:
  Facsimile: (213) 765-0911
         
      1444 South Alameda Street
Los Angeles, California 9021
      Attn: Frederick G. Silny
      Telephone: (213) 765-3504
      Facsimile: (213) 765-5927
         

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GUESS.COM, INC.
         
      By:
      Name:
      Title:
         
      Address for Notices:
         
      1444 South Alameda Street
Los Angeles, California 9021
      Attn: Ralph W. Flick
      Telephone: (213) 765-3210
      Facsimile: (213) 765-0911
         
      1444 South Alameda Street
Los Angeles, California 9021
      Attn: Frederick G. Silny
      Telephone: (213) 765-3504
      Facsimile: (213) 765-5927

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EXHIBIT A

Information Certificate



EXHIBIT B

Form of Compliance Certificate



SCHEDULE 4.1

Permitted Locations

Central Collection Deposit Accounts

Customs Brokers



SCHEDULE 5.2(b)

Chattel Paper and Instruments



SCHEDULE 5.2(f)

Letters of Credit, etc.



SCHEDULE 5.2(g)

Commercial Tort Claims



SCHEDULE 8.4

Liens



SCHEDULE 8.8

Environmental Disclosures



SCHEDULE 8.10

Intellectual Property



SCHEDULE 8.12

Labor Relations



SCHEDULE 8.14

Material Contracts



SCHEDULE 9.9

Indebtedness



SCHEDULE 9.10

Loans and Advances




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LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INDEX TO EXHIBITS AND SCHEDULES
LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT A Information Certificate
EXHIBIT B Form of Compliance Certificate
SCHEDULE 4.1 Permitted Locations Central Collection Deposit Accounts Customs Brokers
SCHEDULE 5.2(b) Chattel Paper and Instruments
SCHEDULE 5.2(f) Letters of Credit, etc.
SCHEDULE 5.2(g) Commercial Tort Claims
SCHEDULE 8.4 Liens
SCHEDULE 8.8 Environmental Disclosures
SCHEDULE 8.10 Intellectual Property
SCHEDULE 8.12 Labor Relations
SCHEDULE 8.14 Material Contracts
SCHEDULE 9.9 Indebtedness
SCHEDULE 9.10 Loans and Advances

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Exhbit 99.1

 
   
   
LOGO      
NEW RELEASE

For Immediate Release   Contact:   Carlos Alberini
President & Chief Operating Officer
(213) 765-3582
         
        Frederick G. Silny
SVP & Chief Financial Officer
(213) 765-3289
         
        Wendi Kopsick/Molly Morse
Kekst and Company
(212) 521-4867/4826

Guess?, Inc. Announces New $85 Million Credit Facility

LOS ANGELES, CA, October 2, 2002—Guess?, Inc. (NYSE:GES) today announced that it has entered into a new $85 million asset-based, secured credit facility arranged by Wachovia Securities. The new four-year agreement replaces an existing facility with JP Morgan Chase.

Carlos Alberini, President and Chief Operating Officer, commented, "We are very pleased with this new agreement. It provides us with excellent financial flexibility and ample capacity to support our working capital needs. We believe the more attractive terms of this agreement are a testament to the improvements in our balance sheet, our clean inventory position, and our strong cash flow, even in a difficult retail environment."

Guess?, Inc. designs, markets, distributes and licenses one of the world's leading lifestyle collections of contemporary apparel, accessories and related consumer products.

Wachovia Corporation (NYSE:WB), created through the September 1, 2001, merger of First Union and Wachovia, had assets of $325 billion and stockholder's equity of $30 billion at June 30, 2002. Wachovia is a leading provider of financial services to 20 million retail, brokerage and corporate customers throughout the East Coast and the nation. The company operates full-service banking offices under the First Union and Wachovia names in 11 East Coast states and Washington, D.C., and offers full-service brokerage with offices in 49 states and global services through more than 30 international offices. Online banking and brokerage products and services are available through wachovia.com and firstunion.com.

# # #

Except for historical information contained herein, certain matters discussed in this press release including but not limited to the Company's expected results of operations and plans to reduce costs and estimated charges, are forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are only expectations, and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual results in future periods and other future events to differ materially from what is currently anticipated. Factors which may cause actual results in future periods to differ from current expectations include, among other things, the continued availability of sufficient working capital, the successful integration of new stores into existing operations, the continued desirability and customer acceptance of existing and future product lines, possible cancellations of wholesale orders, the success of competitive products, the success of the Company's programs to strengthen its inventory cost accounting controls and procedures, and the availability of adequate sources of capital. In addition to these factors, the economic and other factors identified in the Company's most recent annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2001 including but not limited to the risk factors discussed therein, could affect the forward-looking statements contained herein and in the Company's other public documents.




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