Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement
On May 17, 2021, Signet Jewelers Limited (“Signet” or the “Company”), through its subsidiary Sterling Jewelers Inc. (“Sterling”), entered into an Amended and Restated Credit Card Program Agreement (“Sterling Program Agreement”) with Comenity Bank (“Comenity Bank”), which amends and restates the Credit Card Program Agreement entered into by and between Sterling and Comenity Bank on May 25, 2017. In addition, on May 17, 2021, the Company, through its subsidiary Zale Delaware, Inc. (“Zale”), entered into an Amended and Restated Private Label Credit Card Program Agreement (“Zale Program Agreement” and together with the Sterling Program Agreement, each a “Program Agreement” and collectively the “Program Agreements”) with Comenity Capital Bank (“Comenity Capital” and together with Comenity Bank, “Comenity”), which amends and restates the Private Label Credit Card Program Agreement entered into by and among Zale, Zale Puerto Rico, Inc. and Comenity Capital on July 9, 2013.
Each Program Agreement has an initial term from July 1, 2021 through December 31, 2025 and, unless terminated earlier by either party, automatically renews for successive two-year terms.
The Program Agreements provide for, among other things, that Comenity operate a primary source program to issue credit cards to Sterling and Zale customers to be serviced, maintained, administered, collected upon, and promoted in accordance with the terms therein (the "Primary Source Program"). Each Program Agreement includes a signing bonus, which may be repayable under certain conditions if such Program Agreement is terminated.
Subject to limited exceptions, including permitting a second look program, during the term of the applicable Program Agreement, Comenity will be the exclusive issuer of open-ended credit products (including credit cards) in the United States bearing specified Company trademarks, including trademarks associated with “Kay”, “Jared” and other specified regional brands under the Sterling Program Agreement, and, “Zale”, “Piercing Pagoda”, and other specified regional brands under the Zale Program Agreement.
The Program Agreements contain customary representations, warranties, and covenants. Upon expiration or termination by either party of a Program Agreement, Sterling or Zale, as applicable, retains the option to purchase, or arrange the purchase by a third party of, the program assets from Comenity on customary terms and conditions. In the case of a purchase by Sterling upon expiration or termination of the Sterling Program Agreement, such purchase shall be on terms that are no more onerous to Sterling than those applicable to Comenity Bank under the Purchase Agreement, dated May 25, 2017, by and between Sterling and Comenity Bank.
This description is a summary and does not purport to be a complete description of the Program Agreements. It is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the Program Agreements, which are incorporated herein by reference and will be filed with the Company’s next quarterly report on Form 10-Q.
Item 8.01 Other Events
In addition to the Program Agreements, on May 17, 2021, the Company, through Sterling, entered into an Amended and Restated Program Agreement (the “Genesis Agreement”) with Genesis FS Card Services, Inc. (“Genesis”), which amends and restates the Program Agreement entered into by and between Sterling and Genesis on July 26, 2018. The Genesis Agreement has an initial term from July 1, 2021 through December 31, 2025 and, unless terminated earlier by either party, automatically renews for successive one-year periods.
Under the terms of the Genesis Agreement, Genesis will expand its role in originating, funding, administering and servicing a second look credit program to Sterling customers that are declined under Sterling's new Primary Source Program. Comenity and Genesis are longtime partners in the Company’s credit provider structure, and are currently integrated into the Company’s point of sale operations in-store and online.