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EXHIBIT 10.1

 
EIGHTH AMENDMENT
TO
AMENDED AND RESTATED PRIVATE LABEL
CREDIT CARD PROGRAM AGREEMENT
 
 
This Eighth Amendment to Amended and Restated Private Label Credit Card Program
Agreement ("Eighth Amendment") is entered into as of the 15th day of July, 2010
(the "Effective Date") by and among Stage Stores, Inc., a Nevada corporation
("Stage Stores"), Specialty Retailers, Inc., a Texas corporation ("Specialty"),
with their principal offices at 10201 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77025 (Stage
Stores and Specialty hereinafter being referred to collectively as "Stage"), and
World Financial Network National Bank, a national banking association with its
principal offices at 3100 Easton Square Place, Columbus, OH 43219
("Bank").  Stage Stores, Specialty, and Bank are collectively referred to in
this Eighth Amendment as the "Parties."
 
 
R E C I T A L S:
 
WHEREAS, Stage and Bank entered into an Amended and Restated Private Label
Credit Card Program Agreement dated as of March 5, 2004, as amended (the
"Agreement") pursuant to which Bank issues Accounts to certain Customers of
Stage and such Customers can use the Accounts to purchase Goods and/or Services
from Stage (as such capitalized terms are defined in the Agreement); and
 
WHEREAS, Stage and Bank now desire to amend the Agreement with regard to certain
provisions as provided herein.
 
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements
contained herein, the Parties hereto agree as follows:
 
1.   
Definitions; References.  Each term used herein which is not defined herein
shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Agreement.  Each reference
to "hereof", "hereunder", "herein" and "hereby" and each other similar reference
and each reference to "this Agreement" and each other similar reference
contained in the Agreement shall from and after the date hereof refer to the
Agreement amended hereby.

 

 
 

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2.  
Subsections 2.9 (a) through 2.9 (g).  The defined term “Enhancement Marketing
Services”, as it appears in Sections 2.9 (a) through 2.9 (g) and anywhere else
in the Agreement, is hereby replaced with the term “Bank Enhancement Marketing
Services”.

 
3.  
Section 2.9 – Billing Statement Inserts, Strategic Protection Products, Bank
Enhancement Marketing Services and Stage Enhancement Marketing Services.  The
following subsections shall be added to Section 2.9 and made a part of the
Agreement by reference.

 
(h)           Stage Enhancement Marketing Services. (i) The Parties recognize
that, from time-to-time, Stage enters into a “Stage Vendor Agreement” with a
“Stage Vendor”, under the terms of which agreement Stage and/or the Stage Vendor
solicit Customers from Stage’s points-of-sale (in-store cash registers,
catalogue call centers) to purchase the Stage Vendor’s products and services.
Such products and/or services (“Stage Enhancement Marketing Services”) are the
types of merchandise, memberships, and services that would be categorized as
Bank Enhancement Marketing Services (as opposed to Strategic Protection
Products) if offered by Bank; and, by way of clarification, are not items sold
by Stage as part of its core and/or customary business (i.e., Goods and/or
Services).  The following provisions shall apply in the event Stage wants
Accounts to be accepted as a form of tender to purchase any particular Stage
Enhancement Marketing Services.  First, use of Accounts shall be subject to the
prior approval of Bank (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or
delayed) and Bank’s other rights under this Agreement (including but not limited
to those regarding references to its name and/or the Plan). Second,
solicitations and offerings for the Stage Enhancement Marketing Services shall
not contain Bank’s endorsement. Third, Bank’s processing of such transactions
shall be subject to  Bank’s ability to do so and the terms of a “Third-Party
Vendor Agreement” (described in greater detail in Schedule 2.9 (h)) entered into
amongst Bank, Stage, and the subject Stage Vendor.
 
3.  
Schedule 2.9 (h) - Stage Enhancement Marketing Services.  Schedule 2.9 (h), as
attached hereto, is hereby added to and made a part of the Agreement.

 
4.
Governing Law.  This Eighth Amendment shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Ohio.

 
5.
Counterparts; Effectiveness.  This Eighth Amendment may be executed in any
number of counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an
original, but all of such counterparts shall together constitute one and the
same instrument. The provisions included in this Eighth Amendment shall be
effective as of the Effective Date set forth in the first paragraph of this
Eighth Amendment.

 
6.
Entire Agreement. As hereby amended and supplemented, the Agreement shall remain
in full force and effect.

 
 
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Eighth Amendment to be executed
by their duly authorized officers as of the Effective Date.
 
 
 

 WORLD FINANCIAL NETWORK   STAGE STORES, INC.  NATIONAL BANK        By:  /s/
Daniel T. Groomes    By:  /s/ Richard E. Stasyszen   Name: Daniel T.
Groomes       Name: Richard E. Stasyszen   Title:  President    Title:  Sr. Vice
President - Finance & Controller            SPECIALTY RETAILERS, INC.      
 By:  /s/ Richard E. Stasyszen    Name: Richard E. Stasyszen      Title:  Sr.
Vice President - Finance & Controller

 

 
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Schedule 2.9 (h)
 
Stage Enhancement Marketing Services
 
 
CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED
 
Confidential treatment of Schedule 2.9(h) has been requested and it has been
omitted.  An unredacted version of this document has been filed separately with
the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
 
 
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