REMIC Administration (a) The REMIC Administrator shall make an election to treat the Trust Fund as one or more REMICs under the Code and, if necessary, under applicable state law. The assets of each such REMIC will be set forth in the Series Supplement. Such election will be made on Form 1066 or other appropriate federal tax or information return (including Form 8811) or any appropriate state return for the taxable year ending on the last day of the calendar year in which the Certificates are issued. For the purposes of each REMIC election in respect of the Trust Fund, Certificates and interests to be designated as the "regular interests" and the sole class of "residual interests" in the REMIC will be set forth in Section 10.03 of the Series Supplement. The REMIC Administrator and the Trustee shall not permit the creation of any "interests" (within the meaning of Section 860G of the Code) in any REMIC elected in respect of the Trust Fund other than the "regular interests" and "residual interests" so designated.
(b) The Closing Date is hereby designated as the "startup day" of the Trust Fund within the meaning of Section 860G(a)(9) of the Code.
(c) The REMIC Administrator shall hold a Class R Certificate representing a 0.01% Percentage Interest each Class of the Class R Certificates and shall be designated as "the tax matters person" with respect to each REMIC in the manner provided under Treasury regulations section 1.860F-4(d) and Treasury regulations section 301.6231(a)(7)-1. The REMIC Administrator, as tax matters person, shall (i) act on behalf of each REMIC in relation to any tax matter or controversy involving the Trust Fund and (ii) represent the Trust Fund in any administrative or judicial proceeding relating to an examination or audit by any governmental taxing authority with respect thereto. The legal expenses, including without limitation attorneys' or accountants' fees, and costs of any such proceeding and any liability resulting therefrom shall be expenses of the Trust Fund and the REMIC Administrator shall be entitled to reimbursement therefor out of amounts attributable to the Mortgage Loans on deposit in the Custodial Account as provided by Section 3.10 unless such legal expenses and costs are incurred by reason of the REMIC Administrator's willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence. If the REMIC Administrator is no longer the Master Servicer hereunder, at its option the REMIC Administrator may continue its duties as REMIC Administrator and shall be paid reasonable compensation not to exceed $3,000 per year by any successor Master Servicer hereunder for so acting as the REMIC Administrator.
(d) The REMIC Administrator shall prepare or cause to be prepared all of the Tax Returns that it determines are required with respect to each REMIC created hereunder and deliver such Tax Returns in a timely manner to the Trustee and the Trustee shall sign and file such Tax Returns in a timely manner. The expenses of preparing such returns shall be borne by the REMIC Administrator without any right of reimbursement therefor. The REMIC Administrator agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Trustee with respect to any tax or liability arising from the Trustee's signing of Tax Returns that contain errors or omissions. The Trustee and Master Servicer shall promptly provide the REMIC Administrator with such information as the REMIC Administrator may from time to time request for the purpose of enabling the REMIC Administrator to prepare Tax Returns.
(e) The REMIC Administrator shall provide (i) to any Transferor of a Class R Certificate such information as is necessary for the application of any tax relating to the transfer of a Class R Certificate to any Person who is not a Permitted Transferee, (ii) to the Trustee, and the Trustee shall forward to the Certificateholders, such information or reports as are required by the Code or the REMIC Provisions including reports relating to interest, original issue discount and market discount or premium (using the Prepayment Assumption) and (iii) to the Internal Revenue Service the name, title, address and telephone number of the person who will serve as the representative of each REMIC.
(f) The Master Servicer and the REMIC Administrator shall take such actions and shall cause each REMIC created hereunder to take such actions as are reasonably within the Master Servicer's or the REMIC Administrator's control and the scope of its duties more specifically set forth herein as shall be necessary or desirable to maintain the status of each REMIC as a REMIC under the REMIC Provisions (and the Trustee shall assist the Master Servicer and the REMIC Administrator, to the extent reasonably requested by the Master Servicer and the REMIC Administrator to do so). The Master Servicer and the REMIC Administrator shall not knowingly or intentionally take any action, cause the Trust Fund to take any action or fail to take (or fail to cause to be taken) any action reasonably within their respective control that, under the REMIC Provisions, if taken or not taken, as the case may be, could (i) endanger the status of any portion of any REMIC formed under the Series Supplement as a REMIC or (ii) result in the imposition of a tax upon any such REMIC (including but not limited to the tax on prohibited transactions as defined in Section 860F(a)(2) of the Code and the tax on contributions to a REMIC set forth in Section 860G(d) of the Code) (either such event, in the absence of an Opinion of Counsel or the indemnification referred to in this sentence, an "Adverse REMIC Event") unless the Master Servicer or the REMIC Administrator, as applicable, has received an Opinion of Counsel (at the expense of the party seeking to take such action or, if such party fails to pay such expense, and the Master Servicer or the REMIC Administrator, as applicable, determines that taking such action is in the best interest of the Trust Fund and the Certificateholders, at the expense of the Trust Fund, but in no event at the expense of the Master Servicer, the REMIC Administrator or the Trustee) to the effect that the contemplated action will not, with respect to each REMIC created hereunder, endanger such status or, unless the Master Servicer, the REMIC Administrator or both, as applicable, determine in its or their sole discretion to indemnify the Trust Fund against the imposition of such a tax, result in the imposition of such a tax. Wherever in this Agreement a contemplated action may not be taken because the timing of such action might result in the imposition of a tax on the Trust Fund, or may only be taken pursuant to an Opinion of Counsel that such action would not impose a tax on the Trust Fund, such action may nonetheless be taken provided that the indemnity given in the preceding sentence with respect to any taxes that might be imposed on the Trust Fund has been given and that all other preconditions to the taking of such action have been satisfied. The Trustee shall not take or fail to take any action (whether or not authorized hereunder) as to which the Master Servicer or the REMIC Administrator, as applicable, has advised it in writing that it has received an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that an Adverse REMIC Event could occur with respect to such action. In addition, prior to taking any action with respect to any REMIC created hereunder or any related assets thereof, or causing any such REMIC to take any action, which is not expressly permitted under the terms of this Agreement, the Trustee will consult with the Master Servicer or the REMIC Administrator, as applicable, or its designee, in writing, with respect to whether such action could cause an Adverse REMIC Event to occur with respect to any such REMIC, and the Trustee shall not take any such action or cause any such REMIC to take any such action as to which the Master Servicer or the REMIC Administrator, as applicable, has advised it in writing that an Adverse REMIC Event could occur. The Master Servicer or the REMIC Administrator, as applicable, may consult with counsel to make such written advice, and the cost of same shall be borne by the party seeking to take the action not expressly permitted by this Agreement, but in no event at the expense of the Master Servicer or the REMIC Administrator. At all times as may be required by the Code, the Master Servicer will to the extent within its control and the scope of its duties more specifically set forth herein, maintain substantially all of the assets of each REMIC created hereunder as "qualified mortgages" as defined in Section 860G(a)(3) of the Code and "permitted investments" as defined in Section 860G(a)(5) of the Code.
(g) In the event that any tax is imposed on "prohibited transactions" of any REMIC created hereunder as defined in Section 860F(a)(2) of the Code, on "net income from foreclosure property" of any such REMIC as defined in Section 860G(c) of the Code, on any contributions to any such REMIC after the Startup Day therefor pursuant to Section 860G(d) of the Code, or any other tax is imposed by the Code or any applicable provisions of state or local tax laws, such tax shall be charged (i) to the Master Servicer, if such tax arises out of or results from a breach by the Master Servicer of any of its obligations under this Agreement or the Master Servicer has in its sole discretion determined to indemnify the Trust Fund against such tax, (ii) to the Trustee, if such tax arises out of or results from a breach by the Trustee of any of its obligations under this Article X, or (iii) otherwise against amounts on deposit in the Custodial Account as provided by Section 3.10 and on the Distribution Date(s) following such reimbursement the aggregate of such taxes shall be allocated in reduction of the Accrued Certificate Interest on each Class entitled thereto in the same manner as if such taxes constituted a Prepayment Interest Shortfall.
(h) The Trustee and the Master Servicer shall, for federal income tax purposes, maintain books and records with respect to each REMIC created hereunder on a calendar year and on an accrual basis or as otherwise may be required by the REMIC Provisions.
(i) Following the Startup Day, neither the Master Servicer nor the Trustee shall accept any contributions of assets to any REMIC created hereunder unless (subject to Section 10.01(f)) the Master Servicer and the Trustee shall have received an Opinion of Counsel (at the expense of the party seeking to make such contribution) to the effect that the inclusion of such assets in such REMIC will not cause the REMIC to fail to qualify as a REMIC at any time that any Certificates are outstanding or subject the REMIC to any tax under the REMIC Provisions or other applicable provisions of federal, state and local law or ordinances.
(j) Neither the Master Servicer nor the Trustee shall (subject to Section 10.01(f)) enter into any arrangement by which any REMIC created hereunder will receive a fee or other compensation for services nor permit any such REMIC to receive any income from assets other than "qualified mortgages" as defined in Section 860G(a)(3) of the Code or "permitted investments" as defined in Section 860G(a)(5) of the Code.
(k) Solely for the purposes of Section 1.860G-1(a)(4)(iii) of the Treasury Regulations, the "latest possible maturity date" by which the Certificate Principal Balance of each Class of Certificates (other than the Interest Only Certificates) representing a regular interest in the applicable REMIC and the Uncertificated Principal Balance of each Uncertificated REMIC Regular Interest (other than each Uncertificated REMIC Regular Interest represented by a Class A-V Certificate, if any) and the rights to the Interest Only Certificates and Uncertificated REMIC Regular Interest represented by a Class A-V Certificate would be reduced to zero is the Maturity Date for each such Certificate and Interest.
(l) Within 30 days after the Closing Date, the REMIC Administrator shall prepare and file with the Internal Revenue Service Form 8811, "Information Return for Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduits (REMIC) and Issuers of Collateralized Debt Obligations" for each REMIC created hereunder.
(m) Neither the Trustee nor the Master Servicer shall sell, dispose of or substitute for any of the Mortgage Loans (except in connection with (i) the default, imminent default or foreclosure of a Mortgage Loan, including but not limited to, the acquisition or sale of a Mortgaged Property acquired by deed in lieu of foreclosure, (ii) the bankruptcy of any REMIC created hereunder, (iii) the termination of any such REMIC pursuant to Article IX of this Agreement or (iv) a purchase of Mortgage Loans pursuant to Article II or III of this Agreement) nor acquire any assets for any such REMIC, nor sell or dispose of any investments in the Custodial Account or the Certificate Account for gain nor accept any contributions to any such REMIC after the Closing Date unless it has received an Opinion of Counsel that such sale, disposition, substitution or acquisition will not (a) affect adversely the status of such REMIC as a REMIC or (b) unless the Master Servicer has determined in its sole discretion to indemnify the Trust Fund against such tax, cause such REMIC to be subject to a tax on "prohibited transactions" or "contributions" pursuant to the REMIC Provisions.
Settlement Administration 5.1. The Settlement Administrator shall, under the supervision of the Court, administer the relief provided by this Settlement Agreement by processing Claim Forms in a rational, responsive, cost effective, and timely manner. The Settlement Administrator shall maintain reasonably detailed records of its activities under this Settlement Agreement. The Settlement Administrator shall maintain all such records as are required by applicable law in accordance with its normal business practices and such records will be made available to Class Counsel and Defendant’s Counsel upon request. The Settlement Administrator shall also provide reports and other information to the Court as the Court may require. The Settlement Administrator shall provide Class Counsel and Defendant’s Counsel with information concerning Notice, administration, and implementation of the Settlement Agreement. Should the Court request, the Parties, in conjunction with the Settlement Administrator, shall submit a timely report to the Court summarizing the work performed by the Settlement Administrator, including a report of all amounts from the State-Specific Settlement Funds paid on account of Approved Claims. Without limiting the foregoing, the Settlement Administrator shall:
(a) receive exclusion forms and other requests from Settlement Class Members and promptly provide a copy of such requests to Class Counsel and Defendant’s Counsel upon receipt. If the Settlement Administrator receives any exclusion forms or other requests from the Settlement Class after the Objection/Exclusion Deadline, the Settlement Administrator shall promptly provide copies thereof to Class Counsel and Defendant’s Counsel;
(b) provide weekly reports to Class Counsel and Defendant’s Counsel, including, without limitation, reports regarding the number of Claim Forms received, the current number approved by the Settlement Administrator at that time from each of the Settlement Classes, and the number of opt-outs received;
(c) make available for inspection by Class Counsel or Defendant’s Counsel the Claim Forms, any documentation submitted in support thereof, and any correspondence received by the Settlement Administrator at any time upon reasonable notice;
(d) pay all Approved Claims according to the terms of this Settlement Agreement;
(e) make all tax filings related to the Escrow Accounts, including making any required “information returns” as that term is used in 26 U.S.C. § 1, et seq. Neither Class Counsel nor Defendant makes any representations regarding the tax treatment of the Escrow Account, State-Specific Settlement Funds or any portion thereof; and
(f) respond to questions about the Settlement from Settlement Class Members.
5.2. The Settlement Administrator shall employ reasonable procedures to screen claims for abuse or fraud. The Settlement Administrator, after consultation with Class Counsel, shall reject Claim Forms where there is evidence of abuse or fraud.
5.3. The Settlement Administrator shall reject any Claim Form that does not contain all requested information. The Settlement Administrator shall provide the individual with an opportunity to cure any deficient Claim Form within twenty-one (21) days after notice to such individual. If the individual fails to cure within the required time, the claim shall be rejected.
5.4. In the exercise of their duties outlined in this Agreement, the Settlement Administrator shall have the right to reasonably request additional information from the Parties or any Settlement Class Member.
