Responsibility of the Trustee (a) The Trustee shall act with the care, skill, prudence and diligence under the circumstances then prevailing that a prudent person acting in like capacity and familiar with such matters would use in the conduct of an enterprise of a like character and with like aims; provided, however, that the Trustee shall incur no liability to any person for any action taken pursuant to a direction, request or approval given by the Company which is contemplated by, and in conformity with, the terms of the Agreements or this Trust and is given in writing by the Company. In the event of a dispute between the Company and a party, the Trustee may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction to resolve the dispute.
(b) If the Trustee undertakes or defends any litigation arising in connection with this Trust, the Company agrees to indemnify the Trustee against the Trustee's costs, expenses and liabilities (including, without limitation, attorney's fees and expenses) relating thereto and to be primarily liable for such payments. If the Company does not pay such costs, expenses and liabilities in a reasonably timely manner, the Trustee may obtain payment from the Trust.
(c) The Trustee may consult with legal counsel (who may also be counsel for the Company generally) with respect to any of its duties or obligations hereunder.
(d) The Trustee may hire agents, accountants, actuaries, investment advisors, financial consultants or other professionals to assist it in performing any of its duties or obligations hereunder.
(e) The Trustee shall have, without exclusion, all powers conferred on trustees by applicable law, unless expressly provided otherwise herein; provided, however, that if an insurance policy is held as an asset of the Trust, the Trustee shall have no power to name a beneficiary of the policy other than the Trust, to assign the policy (as distinct from conversion of the policy to a different form) other than to a successor Trustee, or to loan to any person the proceeds of any borrowing against such policy.
(f) Notwithstanding any powers granted to the Trustee pursuant to this Trust Agreement or to applicable law, the Trustee shall not have any power that could give this Trust the objective of carrying on a business and dividing the gains therefrom, within the meaning of Section 301.7701-2 of the Procedure and Administrative Regulations promulgated pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
Replacement of the Trustee (A) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 10.07, a resignation or removal of the Trustee, and the appointment of a successor Trustee, will become effective only upon such successor Trustee’s acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section 10.07.
(B) The Trustee may resign at any time and be discharged from the trust created by this Indenture by so notifying the Company. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding may remove the Trustee by so notifying the Trustee and the Company in writing. The Company may remove the Trustee if:
(i) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 10.09;
(ii) the Trustee is adjudged to be bankrupt or insolvent or an order for relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under any Bankruptcy Law;
(iii) a custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or
(iv) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.
(C) If the Trustee resigns or is removed, or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason, then (i) the Company will promptly appoint a successor Trustee; and (ii) at any time within one (1) year after the successor Trustee takes office, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding may appoint a successor Trustee to replace such successor Trustee appointed by the Company.
(D) If a successor Trustee does not take office within sixty (60) days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, then the retiring Trustee, the Company or the Holders of at least ten percent (10%) in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.
(E) If the Trustee, after written request by a Holder of at least six (6) months, fails to comply with Section 10.09, then such Holder may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.
(F) A successor Trustee will deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company, upon which notice the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee will become effective and the successor Trustee will have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this Indenture. The successor Trustee will send notice of its succession to Holders. The retiring Trustee will, upon payment of all amounts due to it under this Indenture, promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, which property will, for the avoidance of doubt, be subject to the lien provided for in Section 10.06(D).
Liability of the Trustee The Trustee shall be liable in accordance herewith only to the extent of the obligations specifically imposed upon and undertaken by the Trustee herein. Neither the Trustee nor any of the directors, officers, employees or agents of the Trustee shall be under any liability on any Certificate or otherwise to the Depositor, either of the Sellers, the Servicer, the Certificate Insurer or any Owner for any action taken or for refraining from the taking of any action in good faith pursuant to this Agreement, or for errors in judgment; provided, however, that this provision shall not protect the Trustee, its directors, officers, employees or agents or any such Person against any liability which would otherwise be imposed by reason of negligent action, negligent failure to act or willful misconduct in the performance of duties or by reason of reckless disregard of obligations and duties hereunder. Subject to the foregoing sentence, the Trustee shall not be liable for losses on investments of amounts in the Certificate Account (except for any losses on obligations on which the bank serving as Trustee is the obligor). In addition, the Depositor, each of the Sellers and Servicer covenant and agree to indemnify the Trustee, and when the Trustee is acting as Servicer, the Servicer, from, and hold it harmless against, any and all losses, liabilities, damages, claims or expenses (including legal fees and expenses) of whatsoever kind arising out of or in connection with the performance of its duties hereunder other than those resulting from the negligence or bad faith of the Trustee, and the Depositor shall pay all amounts not otherwise paid pursuant to Sections 2.05 and 7.06 hereof. The Trustee and any director, officer, employee or agent of the Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting in good faith on any certificate, notice or other document of any kind prima facie properly executed and submitted by the Authorized Officer of any Person respecting any matters arising hereunder. The provisions of this Section 10.13 shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment of the outstanding Certificates.
Appointment of the Owner Trustee The Seller hereby appoints the Owner Trustee as trustee of the Issuer effective as of the date hereof, to have all the rights, powers and duties set forth herein.
Successor Owner Trustee Any successor Owner Trustee appointed pursuant to Section 10.02 shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Administrator and to its predecessor Owner Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment under this Agreement, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the predecessor Owner Trustee shall become effective, and such successor Owner Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become fully vested with all the rights, powers, duties and obligations of its predecessor under this Agreement, with like effect as if originally named as Owner Trustee. The predecessor Owner Trustee shall upon payment of its fees and expenses deliver to the successor Owner Trustee all documents and statements and monies held by it under this Agreement, and the Administrator and the predecessor Owner Trustee shall execute and deliver such instruments and do such other things as may reasonably be required for fully and certainly vesting and confirming in the successor Owner Trustee all such rights, powers, duties and obligations. No successor Owner Trustee shall accept appointment as provided in this Section unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Owner Trustee shall be eligible pursuant to Section 10.01. Upon written acceptance of appointment by a successor Owner Trustee pursuant to this Section, the Administrator shall mail notice thereof to all Certificateholders, the Indenture Trustee, the Noteholders and the Rating Agencies. If the Administrator shall fail to mail such notice within 10 Business Days after acceptance of such appointment by the successor Owner Trustee, the successor Owner Trustee shall cause such notice to be mailed at the expense of the Administrator. Any successor Owner Trustee appointed hereunder shall promptly file an amendment to the Certificate of Trust with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as required by the Statutory Trust Act.
The Owner Trustee It is expressly understood and agreed by the parties hereto that (i) this Agreement is executed and delivered by Wilmington Trust, National Association on behalf of the Trust not individually or personally but solely as owner trustee of the Trust under the Trust Agreement of the Trust dated the date hereof in the exercise of the powers and authority conferred upon and vested in Wilmington Trust, National Association as owner trustee of the Trust under such Trust Agreement, (ii) each of the representations, undertakings and agreements herein made on the part of the Trust is made and intended not as the personal representation, undertaking or agreement of Wilmington Trust, National Association, but is made and intended for the purpose of binding only the Trust and (iii) nothing herein contained shall be construed as creating any liability on the part of Wilmington Trust, National Association, individually or personally, to perform any covenant or obligation of the Trust, either expressed or implied, contained herein, all such liability, if any, being expressly waived by the parties hereto and by any Person claiming by, through or under the parties hereto.
Duties of the Trustee and the Certificate Administrator (a) The Trustee, prior to the occurrence of a Servicer Termination Event or Special Servicer Termination Event, as the case may be, and after the curing or waiver of any Servicer Termination Event or Special Servicer Termination Event, as the case may be, that may have occurred, undertakes with respect to the Trust to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Agreement. None of the Depositor, the Servicer or the Special Servicer shall be obligated to monitor or supervise the performance by the Trustee or the Certificate Administrator of its duties hereunder. In case a Servicer Termination Event or a Special Servicer Termination Event, as the case may be, has occurred (which has not been cured or waived), the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Sections 7.2 and 7.4, shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Agreement, and shall use the same degree of care and skill in such exercise, as a prudent institution would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such institution’s own affairs. Any permissive right of the Trustee set forth in this Agreement shall not be construed as a duty, and the Trustee shall not be answerable for other than the negligence, bad faith, fraud or willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee in the exercise of such right. The Certificate Administrator undertakes to perform at all times such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Agreement and no permissive right of the Certificate Administrator shall be construed as a duty and the Certificate Administrator shall not be answerable for other than the negligence, bad faith, fraud or willful misconduct on the part of the Certificate Administrator in the exercise of such right. The Trustee (or the Servicer or the Special Servicer on its behalf) shall have the power to exercise all the rights of a holder of the Mortgage Loan on behalf of the Trust Interest Owners and the Companion Loan Holders, subject to the terms of the Mortgage Loan Documents; provided, however, that the Lender’s obligations under the Mortgage Loan Documents shall be exercised by the Servicer or Special Servicer, as the case may be, pursuant to this Agreement.
(b) Subject to Sections 8.2(a) and 8.3, each of the Trustee and the Certificate Administrator, upon receipt of all resolutions, certificates, statements, opinions, reports, documents, orders or other instruments furnished to the Trustee and the Certificate Administrator that are specifically required to be furnished pursuant to any provision of this Agreement, shall examine, or cause to be examined, such instruments to determine whether they conform on their face to the requirements of this Agreement to the extent specifically set forth herein; provided, however, neither the Trustee nor the Certificate Administrator shall be responsible for the legality, ownership, title, validity or enforceability of any such aforementioned document furnished by any other party hereto, and accepted by the Trustee or the Certificate Administrator, as applicable, in good faith, pursuant to this Agreement. If any such instrument is found on its face not to conform to the requirements of this Agreement in a material manner, the Trustee or the Certificate Administrator, as applicable, may take such action as it deems appropriate to have the instrument corrected, and if the instrument is not corrected to the Trustee’s or the Certificate Administrator’s, as applicable, reasonable satisfaction, the Trustee or the Certificate Administrator, as applicable, may or may not act upon same.
(c) Subject to Section 8.3, no provision of this Agreement shall be construed to relieve the Trustee or the Certificate Administrator from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, its failure to perform its obligations in compliance with this Agreement, or its own willful misconduct or bad faith; provided, however:
(i) no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Agreement against the Trustee or the Certificate Administrator, and each of the Trustee and the Certificate Administrator, as applicable, may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and/or the Certificate Administrator and conforming to the requirements of this Agreement which it reasonably believes in good faith to be genuine and to have been duly executed by the proper authorities respecting any matters arising hereunder;
(ii) neither the Trustee nor the Certificate Administrator shall be liable for an error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee or the Certificate Administrator, as applicable, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee, the Certificate Administrator or such Responsible Officer was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts;
(iii) neither the Trustee nor the Certificate Administrator shall be liable with respect to any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with this Agreement or at the direction of Holders of Certificates evidencing, in the aggregate, not less than 25% of the Voting Rights of the Certificates, relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or the Certificate Administrator, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee or the Certificate Administrator, under this Agreement;
(iv) neither the Trustee nor the Certificate Administrator shall be charged with knowledge of any failure by the Servicer or the Special Servicer to comply with any of their respective obligations under this Agreement or of the occurrence of any of the events referred to in Section 7.1 or any other act or circumstance upon the occurrence of which the Trustee or the Certificate Administrator, as applicable, may be required to take action unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee or the Certificate Administrator, as applicable, obtains actual knowledge of such failure, act or circumstance or the Trustee or the Certificate Administrator, as applicable, receives written notice of such failure from the Servicer, the Special Servicer, the Depositor or Holders of the Certificates evidencing, in the aggregate, not less than 25% of the Voting Rights of the Regular Certificates;
(v) neither the Trustee nor the Certificate Administrator, as applicable, shall in any way be liable by reason of any insufficiency in the Trust Fund unless it is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that the Trustee’s or the Certificate Administrator, as applicable, negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct was the primary cause of such insufficiency;
(vi) neither the Trustee nor the Certificate Administrator, as applicable, shall be obligated to investigate whether any information provided to or received by the Trustee or the Certificate Administrator, as applicable, with respect to the Mortgage Loan or the Trust Interests is required to maintained on a confidential basis; and
(vii) for all purposes under this Agreement, neither the Trustee nor the Certificate Administrator shall be required to take any action with respect to, or be deemed to have notice or knowledge of any Mortgage Loan Event of Default, Servicer Termination Event or Special Servicer Termination Event, unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee or the Certificate Administrator, as applicable, has actual knowledge thereof or shall have received written notice thereof. In the absence of receipt of such notice and such actual knowledge otherwise obtained, the Trustee or the Certificate Administrator, as applicable may conclusively assume that there is no Mortgage Loan Event of Default, Servicer Termination Event or Special Servicer Termination Event.
(d) None of the provisions contained in this Agreement shall in any event require the Trustee or the Certificate Administrator to (i) expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers hereunder if there are reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it, or (ii) perform, or be responsible for the manner of performance of, any of the obligations of the Servicer or the Special Servicer under this Agreement, except, with respect to the Trustee, during such time, if any, as the Trustee shall be the successor to, and be vested with the rights, duties, powers and privileges of, the Servicer or the Special Servicer in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything contained herein, neither the Trustee nor the Certificate Administrator shall be responsible and shall have liability in connection with the duties assumed by the Authenticating Agent, and the Certificate Registrar hereunder, unless the Trustee or the Certificate Administrator is acting in any such capacity hereunder; provided, further, that in any such capacity the Trustee and the Certificate Administrator shall have all of the rights, protections and indemnities provided to it as Trustee and Certificate Administrator hereunder, as applicable.
Resignation and Removal of the Trustee or the Certificate Administrator Each of the Trustee and the Certificate Administrator may at any time resign and be discharged from the trusts hereby created (i) by giving written notice of resignation to the other such party, the Depositor, the Initial Purchasers, the Servicer, the Special Servicer, the Certificate Administrator, the Certificate Registrar (if other than the Trustee), the Trustee, the Companion Loan Holders and the 17g-5 Information Provider, who shall post such notice on the 17g-5 Information Provider’s Website pursuant to Section 8.14(b), and by mailing notice of resignation by first class mail, postage prepaid, to the Trust Interest Owners at their addresses appearing on the Certificate Register, not less than 60 days before the date specified in such notice when, subject to Section 8.8, such resignation is to take effect, and (ii) only upon acceptance by a successor Trustee or Certificate Administrator, as applicable, appointed by the Depositor in accordance with Section 8.8 meeting the qualifications set forth in Section 8.6. Upon receipt of such notice of resignation, the Depositor shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Certificate Administrator, as applicable, the appointment of which would not, in and of itself, result in a downgrade, qualification or withdrawal by the Rating Agency of the then-current ratings assigned to the Certificates, as evidenced by a written confirmation from the Rating Agency, in triplicate, which written confirmation shall be delivered to the resigning Trustee or Certificate Administrator, and to the successor Trustee or Certificate Administrator, as applicable. If no successor Trustee or Certificate Administrator shall have been so appointed and shall have accepted appointment within 30 days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee or Certificate Administrator, as applicable, may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee or Certificate Administrator, as applicable, at the expense of the Trust. If at any time any of the following occur: (x) the Trustee or the Certificate Administrator shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of Section 8.6 and shall fail to resign after written request for the Trustee’s or the Certificate Administrator’s resignation by the Depositor, the Servicer or the Special Servicer, as applicable; (y) the Trustee or the Certificate Administrator materially defaults in the performance of its obligations under this Agreement; or (z) if at any time the Trustee or the Certificate Administrator shall become incapable of action, or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent, or a receiver of the Trustee or the Certificate Administrator or of either of their property shall be appointed, or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or Certificate Administrator or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation, then in any such case, the Depositor may remove the Trustee or the Certificate Administrator, as applicable, and appoint a successor Trustee or Certificate Administrator, as applicable, by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by an authorized officer of the Depositor, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the Trustee or the Certificate Administrator, as applicable, so removed and one copy to the successor Trustee or Certificate Administrator, as applicable. Holders of Certificates evidencing, in the aggregate, not less than a majority of the Voting Rights of the outstanding Certificates, may at any time remove the Trustee or the Certificate Administrator and appoint a successor Trustee or Certificate Administrator, as applicable, by written instrument or instruments, in triplicate, signed by such Holders or their attorney-in-fact duly authorized, one complete set of which instrument or instruments shall be delivered to the Depositor (with a copy to the Servicer and the Special Servicer), one complete set to the Trustee or the Certificate Administrator, as applicable, so removed and one complete set to the successor(s) so appointed. Notice of any removal of the Trustee or the Certificate Administrator and acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee or Certificate Administrator shall be given to the Rating Agencies (through the successor 17g-5 Information Provider’s Website, as applicable) and the Initial Purchasers by the successor Trustee or Certificate Administrator, as applicable. No removal of the Trustee or the Certificate Administrator shall be effective until all reasonable fees, costs, expenses and Advances (including interest thereon) to which it is entitled have been paid to the Trustee or Certificate Administrator, as applicable, in full; provided that, if the Trustee or the Certificate Administrator is terminated by the Depositor pursuant to the first sentence of this paragraph, or if the Trustee or the Certificate Administrator is terminated with cause by the Holders of Certificates evidencing, in the aggregate, more than 50% of the Voting Rights of all Certificates as provided above in this paragraph, then the terminated party shall be required to pay all reasonable costs and expenses (including those incurred by the other parties hereto (including, without limitation, the reasonable fees of counsel)) to transfer the rights and obligations of the terminated party to a successor trustee or certificate administrator, as applicable; and provided, further, that if the Trustee or the Certificate Administrator is terminated without cause by the Holders of Certificates evidencing more than 50% of the Voting Rights of all Certificates as provided above in this paragraph, then such Holders will be required to pay all the reasonable costs and expenses of the terminated party necessary to effect the transfer of the rights and obligations of the terminated party to a successor trustee or certificate administrator, as applicable. Any resignation or removal of the Trustee or Certificate Administrator shall not become effective until acceptance of the appointment by the successor Trustee or Certificate Administrator, as applicable, as provided in Section 8.8.
Powers of the Trustee 3.1.1 Except as set forth in this State Trust Agreement, the Trustee shall have the power to perform those acts necessary and desirable to accomplish the purposes of the State Mitigation Trust, which shall be exercised in an efficient and expeditious manner in furtherance of and in a manner consistent with the purposes of this State Trust Agreement and the Consent Decree. Subject to the limitations on liability set forth in subparagraph 3.5.2, the Trustee shall act in accordance with the current professional standards of care and with the diligence, skill, and care expected for the administration of such a Trust. The Trustee shall have only such duties, rights, powers, and privileges expressly set forth in the Consent Decree, this State Trust Agreement, and as otherwise provided by the Delaware Act. No implied duties (including fiduciary duties) shall be read into this State Trust against Wilmington Trust, N.A., acting as the Trustee.
3.1.2 Upon the Trust Effective Date, the powers of the Trustee shall include the following:
3.1.2.1 To receive, manage, invest, reinvest, supervise, and protect the Trust Assets as provided in Paragraph 3.2 of this State Trust Agreement or to engage a professional investment manager (“Investment Manager”) to receive, manage, invest, reinvest, supervise, and protect the Trust Assets as provided in Paragraph 3.2 for the benefit of the Beneficiaries. The Trustee appoints Wilmington Trust, N.A. as the Investment Manager for the State Mitigation Trust pursuant to an Investment Management Agreement entered into on the Trust Effective Date to manage the Trust Assets in accordance with Paragraph 3.2;
3.1.2.2 To establish and maintain a public-facing website onto which it will post all materials as required hereunder;
3.1.2.3 To establish and maintain a secure method of internet-based communications for the use of the Trustee and the Beneficiaries;
3.1.2.4 To hold title to property in the name of the Trustee in its capacity as such;
3.1.2.5 To incur, and pay from the Trust Administration Cost Subaccount, any and all customary and commercially reasonable charges and expenses upon or connected with the administration of this State Mitigation Trust in the discharge of its obligations hereunder, including 98% of Start-up Costs and 98% of Shared State and Indian Tribe Administration Costs;
3.1.2.6 To engage and compensate professionals to assist the Trustee in accordance with this State Trust Agreement, including, but not limited to, legal, environmental, investment, accounting, tax, website, and third-party auditing professionals, or internet service providers, or insurance providers. Such third-party auditing professionals may be used by the Trustee to audit and/or review expenditures to verify that they comport with the requirements and limitations on use of Trust Funds, as set forth herein. The Trustee may initiate such an audit and/or review on its own initiative or in response to credible reports or suggestions that such review or audit is appropriate. The Trustee shall have an annual independent audit prepared and posted on the website. In its sole discretion, the United States may waive the requirement of an annual audit starting in year ten or at an earlier time in order to preserve Trust Funds;
3.1.2.7 To engage and compensate professionals to assist the Trustee in requesting a Private Letter Ruling from the IRS: (1) that the State Mitigation Trust will be treated as a Qualified Settlement Fund under 26 C.F.R. § 1.468B-1; (2) that all investment income earned on the Trust Assets will be excludible from gross income under Section 115 of the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. § 115; and (3) on any federal tax matter that the Tax Professionals reasonably believe is necessary to support the rulings in (1) and
Eligibility Requirements for Owner Trustee and Delaware Trustee The Owner Trustee shall at all times (i) maintain its principal place of business in the State of New York or such other location within the United States to which the Depositor shall consent in writing, (ii) be authorized to exercise corporate trust powers, (iii) have a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000, (iv) be subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authorities and (v) have the Required Rating. If such person shall publish reports of condition at least annually pursuant to law or to the requirements of the aforesaid supervising or examining authority, then for the purpose of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such person shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. The Delaware Trustee shall at all times be a Person satisfying the provisions of Section 3807(a) of the Statutory Trust Statute. In case at any time the Owner Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, as applicable, shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, the Owner Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, as applicable, shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in Section 10.02.
