Exhibit
10 (i)


 


AMENDMENT TO AMENDED AND
RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT


 


THIS AMENDMENT TO
AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT (the “Amendment”), dated as of
May 29, 2003, is entered into by and between FAMILY DOLLAR STORES, INC., a
Delaware corporation (“FDSI”), FAMILY DOLLAR, INC., a North Carolina
corporation (“FDI”) (FDSI and FDI are collectively referred to herein as
the “Borrower”) and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. (the “Bank”).


 


RECITALS


 


The Borrower and
the Bank are parties to an Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of
May 31, 2001 (as amended prior to the date hereof, the “Credit Agreement”)
pursuant to which the Bank has extended certain credit facilities to the
Borrower.


 


In accordance with
Sections 2.14 and 2.15 of the Credit Agreement, the Borrower has requested the
Bank to agree to extensions of the Tranche A Termination Date and the Tranche B
Termination Date.


 


The Bank is
willing to amend the Credit Agreement to extend the Tranche A Termination Date
and the Tranche B Termination Date, subject to the terms and conditions of this
Amendment.


 


NOW, THEREFORE,
for valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby
acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:


 


1.                                       Defined
Terms.  Unless otherwise defined
herein, capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings, if any, assigned
to them in the Credit Agreement.


 


2.                                       Amendments
to Credit Agreement.


 


(a)                                  Section
1.01 of the Credit Agreement is amended by amending the following definitions
to read in their entirety as follows:


 


(1)                                  “Tranche
A Commitment” means the obligation of the Bank to make Tranche A Loans
hereunder in an aggregate principal amount up to but not exceeding Fifty
Million Dollars ($50,000,000.00), as the same may be reduced pursuant to
Sections 2.01(c) and 2.12 or terminated pursuant to Section 2.12.


 


(2)                                  “Tranche
A Termination Date” means May 31, 2005, or such earlier date as the Tranche
A Commitment is terminated pursuant to this Agreement.


 


(3)                                  “Tranche
B Commitment” means the obligation of the Bank to make Tranche B Loans
hereunder in an aggregate principal amount up to but not


 


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exceeding Fifty Million Dollars ($50,000,000.00), as
the same may be reduced or terminated pursuant to Section 2.12.


 


(4)                                  “Tranche
B Termination Date” means May 27, 2004, or such earlier date as the Tranche
B Commitment is terminated pursuant to this Agreement.


 


(b)                                 Section
2.01(c) of the Credit Agreement is amended to read in its entirety as follows:


 


(c)                                  Subject
to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, at any time and from time to
time on any Business Day on or before the Tranche A Termination Date, the
Borrower may convert all or a portion of the Tranche A Loans then outstanding
into a Term Loan (each a “Term Loan”) with a maturity of Five (5)
years.  The Borrower shall give the Bank
at least five (5) Business Days prior written notice of each such conversion
specifying the date of the conversion (the “Term Loan Conversion Date”),
the principal amount of the Term Loan, whether installments of principal of the
Loan will be payable quarterly or semiannually after the Second Anniversary for
such Term Loan and the term of such Term Loan. 
Each Term Loan shall be in a minimum principal amount of $5,000,000 or
increments of $100,000 above such amount, except for the last Term Loan, which
may be less than such amount. Effective as of each Term Loan Conversion Date,
the Tranche A Commitment shall be irrevocably reduced by the aggregate
principal amount of the Tranche A Loans converted into a Term Loan on such
date.


 


(c)                                  Section
2.03(c) of the Credit Agreement is amended to read in its entirety as follows:


 


(c)                                  In
the event that the Borrower converts all or a portion of the Tranche A Loans
into a Term Loan in accordance with Section 2.01(c), the Borrower shall pay to
the Bank the entire principal amount of such Term Loan as follows:


 


(A)  installments of principal each in an amount
equal to one-fifth of the original principal amount of such Term Loan shall be
payable on the First Anniversary and Second Anniversary of such Term Loan, and
(B) thereafter (x) if the Borrower has notified the Bank pursuant to Section
2.01(c) that after the Second Anniversary installments of principal will be
payable quarterly, installments of principal shall be payable in twelve (12)
equal, consecutive quarterly installments each in a principal amount equal to
one twelfth (1/12th) of the then outstanding principal amount of such Term Loan
on the Second Anniversary after giving effect to the scheduled payment of
principal on such date, with the first such quarterly installment being payable
on the date occurring three (3) months after the Second Anniversary and
subsequent like installments being payable every three (3) months thereafter,
or (y) if the Borrower has notified the Bank pursuant to Section 2.01(c) that
after the Second Anniversary installments of principal will be payable
semiannually, installments of principal shall be payable in six equal,
consecutive semiannual installments each in a principal amount equal to one
sixth (1/6th) of the then outstanding principal amount of such Term Loan after
giving effect to the scheduled payment of principal on such date, with the
first such semiannual installment being payable on the date occurring six (6)
months after


 


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the Second Anniversary and subsequent like
installments being payable every six (6) months thereafter.


 


(d)                                 Section
8.14 of the Credit Agreement is amended by adding at the end thereof the
following sentence:


 


Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary,
“Information” shall not include, and the Bank may disclose without limitation
of any kind, any information with respect to the “tax treatment” and “tax
structure” (in each case, within the meaning of Treasury Regulation
Section 1.6011-4) of the transactions contemplated hereby and all
materials of any kind (including opinions or other tax analyses) that are
provided to the Bank relating to such tax treatment and tax structure; provided
that with respect to any document or similar item that in either case contains
information concerning the tax treatment or tax structure of the transaction as
well as other information, this sentence shall only apply to such portions of
the document or similar item that relate to the tax treatment or tax structure
of the Loans and transactions contemplated hereby and provided  further,
that the Bank will give the Borrower reasonable prior notice of such
disclosure.


 


(e)                                  The
Address for Notices on page 32 of the Credit Agreement is amended in its
entirety as follows:


 


Address for Notices:


 


Bank of America, N.A.

901 Main Street

TX1-492-64-01

Dallas, TX 75202-3714


 


Facsimile No.:  (214) 209-1286


 


Attention:  Portfolio Management - Retail


 


3.                                       Representations
and Warranties.  The Borrower hereby
represents and warrants to the Bank as follows:


 


(a)                                  No
Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.


 


(b)                                 The
execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of this Amendment have been
duly authorized by all necessary corporate and other action and do not and will
not require any registration with, consent or approval of, notice to or action
by, any Person (including any Governmental Authority) in order to be effective
and enforceable.  The Credit Agreement
as amended by this Amendment constitutes the legal, valid and binding
obligations of the Borrower, enforceable against it in accordance with its
terms, except as limited by applicable Debtor Relief Laws and general
principles of equity, without defense, counterclaim or offset.


 


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(c)                                  All
representations and warranties of the Borrower contained in the Credit
Agreement are true and correct on and as of the date hereof.


 


4.                                       Effective
Date.  This Amendment will become
effective as of May 29, 2003 (the “Effective Date”), provided
that each of the following conditions precedent is satisfied:


 


(a)                                  The
Bank has received from the Borrower a duly executed original (or, if elected by
the Bank, an executed facsimile copy) of this Amendment, together with a duly
executed Guarantor Acknowledgment and Consent in the form attached hereto (the
“Consent”).


 


(b)                                 All
representations and warranties contained herein are true and correct as of the
Effective Date.


 


5.                                       Reservation
of Rights.  The Borrower
acknowledges and agrees that the execution and delivery by the Bank of this
Amendment shall not be deemed to create a course of dealing or otherwise
obligate the Bank to enter into amendments under the same, similar or any other
circumstances in the future.


 


6.                                       Miscellaneous.


 


(a)                                  Except
as herein expressly amended, all terms, covenants and provisions of the Credit
Agreement are and shall remain in full force and effect and all references
therein and in the other Loan Documents to such Credit Agreement shall
henceforth refer to the Credit Agreement as amended by this Amendment.  This Amendment shall be deemed incorporated
into, and a part of, the Credit Agreement. 
This Amendment is a Loan Document.


 


(b)                                 This
Amendment shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto
and to the Credit Agreement and their respective successors and assigns.  No third party beneficiaries are intended in
connection with this Amendment.


 


(c)                                  This
Amendment shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of the
State of North Carolina.


 


(d)                                 This
Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be
deemed an original, but all such counterparts together shall constitute but one
and the same instrument.  Each of the
parties hereto understands and agrees that this document (and any other
document required herein) may be delivered by any party thereto either in the
form of an executed original or an executed original sent by facsimile
transmission to be followed promptly by mailing of a hard copy original, and
that receipt by the Bank or the Borrower of a facsimile transmitted document
purportedly bearing the signature of the Bank or the Borrower, as applicable,
shall bind the Bank or the Borrower with the same force and effect as the
delivery of a hard copy original.  Any
failure by the Bank or the Borrower to receive the hard copy executed original
of such document shall not diminish the binding effect of receipt of the facsimile
transmitted executed original of such document which hard copy original was not
received by the Bank or the Borrower, as applicable.


 


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(e)                                  This
Amendment, together with the Credit Agreement, contains the entire and
exclusive agreement of the parties hereto with reference to the matters
discussed herein and therein.  This
Amendment supersedes all prior drafts and communications with respect
thereto.  This Amendment may not be
amended except in accordance with the provisions of Section 8.04 of the
Credit Agreement.


 


(f)                                    If
any term or provision of this Amendment shall be deemed prohibited by or
invalid under any applicable law, such provision shall be invalidated without
affecting the remaining provisions of this Amendment or the Credit Agreement,
respectively.


 


(g)                                 Notice
of Final Agreement.  THIS WRITTEN
AMENDMENT, THE CREDIT AGREEMENT, THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS, AND THE DOCUMENTS
EXECUTED IN CONNECTION HEREWITH REPRESENT THE FINAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE
PARTIES AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS, OR
SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES. 
THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE PARTIES.


 


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed
and delivered this Amendment as of the date first above written.


 


	
  FAMILY DOLLAR STORES,
  INC.

  	
  FAMILY DOLLAR , INC.

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  By:

  	
  /s/

  	
  C. Martin Sowers

  	
   

  	
  By:

  	
  /s/

  	
  C. Martin Sowers

  	
   

  
	
  Name:

  	
  C. MARTIN SOWERS

  	
  Name:

  	
  C. MARTIN SOWERS

  
	
  Title: 

  	
  Senior Vice President -
  Finance

  	
  Title:

  	
  Senior Vice President -
  Finance

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  By: 

  	
  /s/ 

  	
  Temple H. Abney

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  Name:

  	
  Temple Abney

  
	
   

  	
  Title:

  	
  Vice President

  
											



 


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GUARANTOR ACKNOWLEDGMENT
AND CONSENT


 


Each of the
undersigned Guarantors, each a guarantor with respect to the Borrower’s
obligations under the Credit Agreement, hereby (i) acknowledges and consents to
the terms of and the execution, delivery and performance of the foregoing
Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “Amendment”)
(without implying the need for any such acknowledgement or consent), and (ii)
represents and warrants to the Bank that, both before and after giving effect
to the Amendment, the Guaranty to which each of the undersigned is a party
remains in full force and effect as an enforceable obligation of such
Guarantor, in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be
limited by applicable Debtor Relief Laws and general principles of equity,
without defense, counterclaim or offset, provided that nothing herein
shall prevent the assertion of any such claim by separate suit or compulsory
counterclaim, and that it is in compliance with all of its covenants contained
therein.  Each Guarantor further
represents that the execution, delivery and performance by such Person of this
Acknowledgement and Consent have been duly authorized by all necessary
corporate, partnership and other action and do not and will not require any
registration with, consent or approval of, notice to or action by, any Person
(including any Governmental Authority) in order to be effective and
enforceable.  Each Guarantor remakes as
of the Effective Date (as defined in the Amendment) all of the representations
and warranties made by it pursuant to the Guaranty to which the undersigned is
a party.  Capitalized terms used herein
and not otherwise defined have the respective meanings defined in the Credit
Agreement (as defined in the Amendment).


 


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has
executed this Acknowledgement and Consent by its duly authorized officers as of
this 29th day of May, 2003.


 


	
   

  	
  FAMILY DOLLAR SERVICES,
  INC.

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  By:

  	
  /s/ 

  	
  C. Martin Sowers

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  Name:

  	
   

  	
  C. MARTIN SOWERS

  
	
   

  	
  Title:

  	
   

  	
  Senior Vice President -
  Finance

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  FAMILY DOLLAR
  OPERATIONS, INC.

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  By:

  	
  /s/ 

  	
  C. Martin Sowers

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  Name:

  	
   

  	
  C. MARTIN SOWERS

  
	
   

  	
  Title:

  	
   

  	
  Senior Vice President -
  Finance

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  FAMILY DOLLAR TRUCKING,
  INC.

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  By:

  	
  /s/ 

  	
  C. Martin Sowers

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  Name:

  	
   

  	
  C. MARTIN SOWERS

  
	
   

  	
  Title:

  	
   

  	
  Senior Vice President -
  Finance

  



 


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