Revolving Line of Credit Note and Fourth Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated July 26, 2019 between The Buckle, Inc. and Buckle Brands, Inc. and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. for a $25.0 million line of credit

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned THE BUCKLE, INC. and BUCKLE BRANDS, INC. ("Borrower") promises to pay to the order of WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION ("Bank") at its office at MAC N8032-034, 1248 O Street, 3rd Floor, Lincoln, Nebraska 68508, or at such other place as the holder hereof may designate, in lawful money of the United States of America and in immediately available funds, the principal sum of Twenty-Five Million Dollars ($25,000,000.00), or so much thereof as may be advanced and be outstanding pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement, as defined herein, with interest thereon, to be computed on each advance from the date of its disbursement as set forth herein.

DEFINITIONS:

As used herein, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth after each, and any other term defined in this Note shall have the meaning set forth at the place defined:

(a)    "Daily One Month LIBOR" means, for any day, the rate of interest equal to LIBOR then in effect for delivery for a one (1) month period.

(b)    "LIBOR" means the rate of interest per annum determined by Bank based on the rate for United States dollar deposits for delivery of funds for one (1) month as published by the ICE Benchmark Administration Limited, a United Kingdom company, at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, or, for any day not a London Business Day, the immediately preceding London Business Day (or if not so published, then as determined by Bank from another recognized source or interbank quotation); provided, however, that if LIBOR determined as provided above would be less than zero percent (0.0%), then LIBOR shall be deemed to be zero percent (0.0%).

(c)    "London Business Day" means any day that is a day for trading by and between banks in dollar deposits in the London interbank market.

INTEREST:

(a)    Interest. The outstanding principal balance of this Note shall bear interest (computed on the basis of a 360-day year, actual days elapsed) at a fluctuating rate per annum determined by Bank to be one and twenty-five hundredths percent (1.25%) above Daily One Month LIBOR in effect from time to time. Bank is hereby authorized to note the date and interest rate applicable to this Note and any payments made thereon on Bank's books and records (either manually or by electronic entry) and/or on any schedule attached to this Note, which notations shall be prima facie evidence of the accuracy of the information noted.

(b)    Taxes and Regulatory Costs. Borrower shall pay to Bank immediately upon demand, in addition to any other amounts due or to become due hereunder, any and all (i) withholdings, interest equalization taxes, stamp taxes or other taxes (except income and franchise taxes) imposed by any domestic or foreign governmental authority and related in any manner to LIBOR, and (ii) costs, expenses and liabilities arising from or in connection with reserve percentages prescribed by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or any successor) for "Eurocurrency Liabilities" (as defined in Regulation D of the Federal Reserve Board, as amended), assessment rates imposed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or similar requirements or costs imposed by any domestic or foreign governmental authority or resulting from compliance by Bank with any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any central bank or other governmental authority and related in any manner to LIBOR. In determining which of the foregoing are attributable to any LIBOR option available to Borrower hereunder, any reasonable allocation made by Bank among its operations shall be conclusive and binding upon Borrower.

(c)    Default Interest. The Bank shall have the option in its sole and absolute discretion to have the outstanding principal balance of this Note bear interest at an increased rate per annum (computed on the basis of a 360-day year, actual days elapsed) equal to four percent (4%) above the rate of interest from time to time applicable to this Note (i) from and after the maturity date of this Note; (ii) from and after the date prior to the maturity date of this Note when all principal owing hereunder becomes due and payable by acceleration or otherwise; and/or (iii) upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default.

BORROWING AND REPAYMENT:

(a)    Borrowing and Repayment of Principal. Borrower may from time to time during the term of this Note borrow, partially or wholly repay its outstanding borrowings, and reborrow, subject to all of the limitations, terms and conditions of this Note and of any document executed in connection with or governing this Note; provided however, that the total outstanding borrowings under this Note shall not at any time exceed the principal amount stated above. The unpaid principal balance of this obligation at any time shall be the total amounts advanced hereunder by the holder hereof less the amount of principal payments made hereon by or for Borrower, which balance may be endorsed hereon from time to time by the holder. The outstanding principal balance of this Note shall be due and payable in full on July 31, 2021.

(b)    Payment of Interest. Interest accrued on this Note shall be payable on the last day of each month, commencing July 31, 2019, and on the maturity date set forth above.

(c)    Advances. Advances hereunder, to the total amount of the principal sum stated above, may be made by the holder at the oral or written request of (i) DENNIS H. NELSON, or THOMAS B. HEACOCK, any one acting alone (subject to any of Bank’s applicable authentication policies or procedures, which may require that a particular individual-including another specific individual listed above-provide verification of the identity of the requestor), who are authorized to request advances and direct the disposition of any advances until written notice of the revocation of such authority is received by the holder at the office designated above, or (ii) any person, with respect to advances deposited to the credit of any deposit account of Borrower, which advances, when so deposited, shall be conclusively presumed to have been made to or for the benefit of Borrower regardless of the fact that persons other than those authorized to request advances may have authority to draw against such account. The holder shall have no obligation to determine whether any person requesting an advance is or has been authorized by Borrower.

(d)    Application of Payments. Each payment made on this Note shall be credited first, to any interest then due and second, to the outstanding principal balance hereof.

PREPAYMENT:

Borrower may prepay principal on this Note at any time, in any amount and without penalty. If principal under this Note is payable in more than one installment, then any prepayments of principal shall be applied to the most remote principal installment or installments then unpaid.

EVENTS OF DEFAULT:

This Note is made pursuant to and is subject to the terms and conditions of that certain Credit Agreement between Borrower and Bank dated January 31, 2011, as amended from time to time (the "Credit Agreement"). Any default in the payment or performance of any obligation under this Note, or any defined event of default under the Credit Agreement, shall constitute an "Event of Default" under this Note.

MISCELLANEOUS:

(a)    Remedies. Upon the sale, transfer, hypothecation, assignment or other encumbrance, whether voluntary, involuntary or by operation of law, of all or any interest in any real property securing this Note, if any, or upon the occurrence of any Event of Default, the holder of this Note, at the holder's option, may declare all sums of principal and interest outstanding hereunder to be immediately due and payable without presentment, demand, notice of nonperformance, notice of protest, protest or notice of dishonor, all of which are expressly waived by Borrower, and the obligation, if any, of the holder to extend any further credit hereunder shall immediately cease and terminate. Borrower shall pay to the holder immediately upon demand the full amount of all payments, advances, charges, costs and expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees (to include outside counsel fees and all allocated costs of the holder's in-house counsel), expended or incurred by the holder in connection with the enforcement of the holder's rights and/or the collection of any amounts which become due to the holder under this Note whether or not suit is brought, and the prosecution or defense of any action in any way related to this Note, including without limitation, any action for declaratory relief, whether incurred at the trial or appellate level, in an arbitration proceeding or otherwise, and including any of the foregoing incurred in connection with any bankruptcy proceeding (including without limitation, any adversary proceeding, contested matter or motion brought by Bank or any other person) relating to Borrower or any other person or entity.

    

(b)    Collateral Exclusion. No lien or security interest created by or arising under any deed of trust, mortgage, security deed, or similar real estate collateral agreement (“Lien Document”) shall secure the Note Obligations unless such Lien Document specifically describes the promissory note(s), instrument(s) or agreement(s) evidencing Note Obligations as a part of the indebtedness secured thereby. This exclusion shall apply notwithstanding (i) the fact that such Lien Document may appear to secure the Note Obligations by virtue of a cross-collateralization provision or other provisions expanding the scope of the secured obligations, and (ii) whether such Lien Document was entered into prior to, concurrently with, or after the date hereof. As used herein, “Note Obligations” means any obligations under this Note, as amended, extended, renewed, refinanced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, or under any other evidence of indebtedness that has been modified, renewed or extended in whole or in part by this Note, as amended, extended, renewed, refinanced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

(c)    Obligations Joint and Several. Should more than one person or entity sign this Note as a Borrower, the obligations of each such Borrower shall be joint and several.

(d)    Governing Law. This Note shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Nebraska, but giving effect to federal laws applicable to national banks, without reference to the conflicts of law or choice of law principles thereof.

(e)    Effective Date. The effective date of this Note shall be the date that Bank has accepted this Note and all conditions to the effectiveness of the Credit Agreement have been fulfilled to Bank’s satisfaction.  Notwithstanding the occurrence of the effective date of this Note, Bank shall not be obligated to extend credit under this Note until all conditions to each extension of credit set forth in the Credit Agreement have been fulfilled to Bank's satisfaction.

    

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Note to be effective as of the effective date set forth herein.

THIS AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT (this "Amendment") is entered into as of July 26, 2019, by and between THE BUCKLE, INC. and BUCKLE BRANDS, INC., both a Nebraska corporation (each individually, a "Borrower"), and WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION ("Bank"). Each reference herein to “Borrower” shall mean each and every party, collectively and individually, defined above as a Borrower.

WHEREAS, Borrower is currently indebted to Bank pursuant to the terms and conditions of that certain Credit Agreement between Borrower and Bank dated as of January 31, 2011, as amended from time to time ("Credit Agreement").

WHEREAS, Bank and Borrower have agreed to certain changes in the terms and conditions set forth in the Credit Agreement and have agreed to amend the Credit Agreement to reflect said changes.

NOW, THEREFORE, for valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree that the Credit Agreement shall be amended as follows:

1.    Section 1.1. (a) is hereby amended by deleting "July 31, 2019" as the last day on which Bank will make advances under the Line of Credit, and by substituting for said date "July 31, 2021." Any promissory note delivered in connection with this Amendment shall replace and be deemed the Line of Credit Note defined in and made pursuant to the Credit Agreement.

2.    Section 1.1. (b) is hereby deleted in its entirety, and the following substituted therefor:

“(b) Letter of Credit Subfeature. As a subfeature under the Line of Credit, Bank agrees from time to time during the term thereof to issue or cause a branch, a subsidiary or an affiliate to issue standby letters of credit and sight commercial letters of credit for the account of Borrower ("Subfeature Letters of Credit"); provided however, that the aggregate undrawn amount of all outstanding Subfeature Letters of Credit shall not at any time exceed Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000.00). Bank shall have no obligation to issue a Subfeature Letter of Credit if (i) any order, judgment, or decree of any governmental authority or arbitrator shall, by its terms, purport to enjoin or restrain Bank from issuing such Subfeature Letter of Credit, or any law applicable to Bank or any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any governmental authority with jurisdiction over Bank shall prohibit or request that Bank refrain from the issuing of letters of credit generally or such Subfeature Letter of Credit in particular, or (ii) such Subfeature Letter of Credit would violate one or more policies of Bank applicable to letters of credit generally, or (iii) if amounts demanded to be paid under any Subfeature Letter of Credit will or may not be in United States Dollars. The form and substance of each Subfeature Letter of Credit shall be subject to approval by Bank, in its sole discretion. No Subfeature Letter of Credit shall have an expiration date more than three hundred sixty-five days (365) days beyond the maturity date of the Line of Credit. The undrawn amount of all Subfeature Letters of Credit shall be reserved under the Line of Credit and shall not be available for borrowings thereunder. Each Subfeature Letter of Credit shall be subject to the additional terms and conditions of Bank's standard standby letter of credit agreement or Bank’s standard commercial letter of credit agreement and all applications and related documents required by Bank in connection with the issuance thereof. Each drawing paid under a Subfeature Letter of Credit shall be deemed an advance under the Line of Credit and shall be repaid by Borrower in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement applicable to such advances; provided however, that if advances under the Line of Credit are not available, for any reason, at the time any drawing is paid, then Borrower shall immediately pay to Bank the full amount drawn, together with interest thereon from the date such drawing is paid to the date such amount is fully repaid by Borrower, at the rate of interest applicable to advances under the Line of Credit.”

3.    Section 1.2. (a) is hereby deleted in its entirety, and the following substituted therefor:

“(a)    Interest. The outstanding principal balance of each credit subject hereto shall bear interest at the rate of interest set forth in each promissory note or other instrument or document executed in connection therewith.”

4.    Section 1.2. (c) is hereby deleted in its entirety, and the following substituted therefor and the following is hereby added to the Credit Agreement as Section 1.2. (d):

“(c)     Commercial Subfeature Letter of Credit Fees and Commissions.  Borrower shall pay to Bank:

(i) non-refundable up front issuance fees or commissions for the issuance, extension or increase of each commercial Subfeature Letter of Credit in an amount equal to 1.00% of the face or increased amount, as applicable, of such commercial Subfeature Letter of Credit, subject to Bank’s standard minimum dollar amount then in effect for such activity), with such fees and commissions payable at the time of issuance, extension or increase or, if applicable, by such later date as may be specified in a billing for such amount sent by Bank to Borrower; and

(ii) fees or commissions for each drawing under any such commercial Subfeature Letter of Credit and for the occurrence of any transfer, assignment, amendment, cancellation or other activity with respect to any such commercial Subfeature Letter of Credit (including without limitation fees for document examination, discrepancies, acceptances, deferred payment, reinstatement, document delivery, special handling and other trade services), determined in accordance with Bank’s standard fees and charges then in effect for such activity, and correspondent bank fees and fees of any adviser, confirming institution or entity or other nominated person, with such fees and commissions payable at the time of such activity or, if applicable, by such later date as may be specified in a billing for such amount sent by Bank to Borrower.

(d)    Standby Subfeature Letter of Credit Fees and Commissions.  Borrower shall pay to Bank;

(i) non-refundable up front issuance fees or commissions for the issuance, extension or increase (including any auto-extension) of each standby Subfeature Letter of Credit in an amount equal to 1.00% per annum (computed on the basis of a 360 day year, actual days projected to elapse) of the face or increased amount, as applicable, of such standby Subfeature Letter of Credit calculated over the projected term thereof (up to the scheduled expiration date), with such fees and commissions payable at the time of issuance, extension or increase or, if applicable, by such later date as may be specified in a billing for such amount sent by Bank to Borrower; and

(ii) fees or commissions for each drawing under any such standby Subfeature Letter of Credit and for the occurrence of any transfer, assignment, amendment, cancellation or other activity with respect to such standby Subfeature Letter of Credit (including without limitation fees for document examination, discrepancies, reinstatement, document delivery, special handling and other trade services), determined in accordance with Bank’s standard fees and charges then in effect for such activity, and correspondent bank fees and fees of any adviser, confirming institution or entity or other nominated person, with such fees and commissions payable at the time of such activity or, if applicable, by such later date as may be specified in a billing for such amount sent by Bank to Borrower.”

5.    Sections 3.2. (b) and (c) are hereby deleted in their entirety, and the following substituted therefor:

“(b)    Documentation. Bank shall have received all additional documents which may be required in connection with such extension of credit including without limitation, the following:

(i)    For the issuance of a commercial letter of credit under any credit subject to this Agreement, Bank's standard Application for Commercial Letter of Credit.

(ii)    For the issuance of a standby letter of credit under any credit subject to this Agreement, Bank's standard Application for Standby Letter of Credit.

    

(c)    Letter of Credit Documentation. Prior to the issuance of any letter of credit, Bank shall have received a Letter of Credit Agreement and any other letter of credit documentation required by Bank, in each case completed and duly executed by Borrower.”

6.    Section 4.2. is hereby deleted in its entirety, and the following substituted therefor:

"SECTION 4.2. ACCOUNTING RECORDS. Maintain adequate books and records in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied, and permit any representative of Bank, at any reasonable time, to inspect, audit and examine such books and records, to make copies of the same, and to inspect the properties of Borrower. If at any time any change in generally accepted accounting principles would affect the computation of any covenant (including the computation of any financial covenant) and/or pricing grid set forth in this Agreement or any other Loan Document, Borrower and Bank shall negotiate in good faith to amend such covenant and/or pricing grid to preserve the original intent in light of such change; provided, that, until so amended, (i) such covenant and/or pricing grid shall continue to be computed in accordance with the application of generally accepted accounting principles prior to such change and (ii) Borrower shall provide to Bank a written reconciliation in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Bank, between calculations of such covenant and/or pricing grid made before and after giving effect to such change in generally accepted accounting principles."

7.    The Bank’s address under Section 7.2. is hereby deleted in its entirety, and the following substituted therefor:

“BANK:        WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

MAC N8032-034

1248 O Street, 3rd Floor

Lincoln, Nebraska 68508”

    

8.    The effective date of this Amendment shall be the date that all of the following conditions set forth in this Section have been satisfied, as determined by Bank and evidenced by Bank’s system of record. Notwithstanding the occurrence of the effective date of this Amendment, Bank shall not be obligated to extend credit under this Amendment or any other Loan Document until all conditions to each extension of credit set forth in the Credit Agreement have been fulfilled to Bank's satisfaction.

(a)    Approval of Bank Counsel. All legal matters incidental to the effectiveness of this Amendment shall be satisfactory to Bank's counsel.

(b)    Documentation. Bank shall have received, in form and substance satisfactory to Bank, each of the following, duly executed by all parties:

(c)    Regulatory and Compliance Requirements. All regulatory and compliance requirements, standards and processes shall be completed to the satisfaction of Bank.

9.    Except as specifically provided herein, all terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement remain in full force and effect, without waiver or modification. All terms defined in the Credit Agreement shall have the same meaning when used in this Amendment. This Amendment and the Credit Agreement shall be read together, as one document.

10.    Borrower hereby remakes all representations and warranties contained in the Credit Agreement and reaffirms all covenants set forth therein. Borrower further certifies that as of the date of this Amendment there exists no Event of Default as defined in the Credit Agreement, nor any condition, act or event which with the giving of notice or the passage of time or both would constitute any such Event of Default.

11.    Borrower hereby covenants that Borrower shall provide to Bank from time to time such other information as Bank may request for the purpose of enabling Bank to fulfill its regulatory and compliance requirements, standards and processes. Borrower hereby represents and warrants to Bank that all information provided from time to time by Borrower or any Third Party Obligor to Bank for the purpose of enabling Bank to fulfill its regulatory and compliance requirements, standards and processes was complete and correct at the time such information was provided and, except as specifically identified to Bank in a subsequent writing, remains complete and correct today, and shall be complete and correct at each time Borrower is required to reaffirm the representations and warranties set forth in the Credit Agreement.

    

A CREDIT AGREEMENT MUST BE IN WRITING TO BE ENFORCEABLE UNDER NEBRASKA LAW. TO PROTECT THE PARTIES FROM ANY MISUNDERSTANDINGS OR DISAPPOINTMENTS, ANY CONTRACT, PROMISE, UNDERTAKING OR OFFER TO FOREBEAR REPAYMENT OF MONEY OR TO MAKE ANY OTHER FINANCIAL ACCOMMODATION IN CONNECTION WITH THIS LOAN OF MONEY OR GRANT OR EXTENSION OF CREDIT, OR ANY AMENDMENT OF, CANCELLATION OF, WAIVER OF, OR SUBSTITUTION FOR ANY OR ALL OF THE TERMS OR PROVISIONS OF ANY INSTRUMENT OR DOCUMENT EXECUTED IN CONNECTION WITH THIS LOAN OF MONEY OR GRANT OR EXTENSION OF CREDIT, MUST BE IN WRITING TO BE EFFECTIVE.