Resolution of Conflicts of Interest; Standards of Conduct and Modification of Duties (a) Unless otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement or any Group Member Agreement, whenever a potential conflict of interest exists or arises between the General Partner or any of its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Partnership, any Group Member or any Partner, on the other, any resolution or course of action by the General Partner or its Affiliates in respect of such conflict of interest shall be permitted and deemed approved by all Partners, and shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement, of any Group Member Agreement, of any agreement contemplated herein or therein, or of any duty stated or implied by law or equity, if the resolution or course of action in respect of such conflict of interest is (i) approved by Special Approval, (ii) approved by the vote of a majority of the Common Units (excluding Common Units owned by the General Partner and its Affiliates), (iii) on terms no less favorable to the Partnership than those generally being provided to or available from unrelated third parties or (iv) fair and reasonable to the Partnership, taking into account the totality of the relationships between the parties involved (including other transactions that may be particularly favorable or advantageous to the Partnership). The General Partner shall be authorized but not required in connection with its resolution of such conflict of interest to seek Special Approval of such resolution, and the General Partner may also adopt a resolution or course of action that has not received Special Approval. If Special Approval is not sought and the Board of Directors of the General Partner determines that the resolution or course of action taken with respect to a conflict of interest satisfies either of the standards set forth in clauses (iii) or (iv) above, then it shall be presumed that, in making its decision, the Board of Directors of the General Partner acted in good faith, and in any proceeding brought by any Limited Partner or by or on behalf of such Limited Partner or any other Limited Partner or the Partnership challenging such approval, the Person bringing or prosecuting such proceeding shall have the burden of overcoming such presumption. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any duty otherwise existing at law or equity, the existence of the conflicts of interest described in the Registration Statement are hereby approved by all Partners and shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement.
(b) Whenever the General Partner makes a determination or takes or declines to take any other action, or any of its Affiliates causes it to do so, in its capacity as the general partner of the Partnership as opposed to in its individual capacity, whether under this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement or any other agreement contemplated hereby or otherwise, then, unless another express standard is provided for in this Agreement, the General Partner, or such Affiliates causing it to do so, shall make such determination or take or decline to take such other action in good faith and shall not be subject to any other or different standards imposed by this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity. In order for a determination or other action to be in “good faith” for purposes of this Agreement, the Person or Persons making such determination or taking or declining to take such other action must believe that the determination or other action is in the best interests of the Partnership, unless the context otherwise requires.
(c) Whenever the General Partner makes a determination or takes or declines to take any other action, or any of its Affiliates causes it to do so, in its individual capacity as opposed to in its capacity as the general partner of the Partnership, whether under this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement or any other agreement contemplated hereby or otherwise, then the General Partner, or such Affiliates causing it to do so, are entitled to make such determination or to take or decline to take such other action free of any fiduciary duty or obligation whatsoever to the Partnership, any Limited Partner, and the General Partner, or such Affiliates causing it to do so, shall not be required to act in good faith or pursuant to any other standard imposed by this Agreement, any Group Member Agreement, any other agreement contemplated hereby or under the Delaware Act or any other law, rule or regulation or at equity. By way of illustration and not of limitation, whenever the phrase, “at the option of the General Partner,” or some variation of that phrase, is used in this Agreement, it indicates that the General Partner is acting in its individual capacity. For the avoidance of doubt, whenever the General Partner votes or transfers its Partnership Interests, or refrains from voting or transferring its Partnership Interests, it shall be acting in its individual capacity.
(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the General Partner and its Affiliates shall have no duty or obligation, express or implied, to (i) sell or otherwise dispose of any asset of the Partnership Group other than in the ordinary course of business or (ii) permit any Group Member to use any facilities or assets of the General Partner and its Affiliates, except as may be provided in contracts entered into from time to time specifically dealing with such use. Any determination by the General Partner or any of its Affiliates to enter into such contracts shall be at its option.
(e) Except as expressly set forth in this Agreement, neither the General Partner nor any other Indemnitee shall have any duties or liabilities, including fiduciary duties, to the Partnership or any Limited Partner and the provisions of this Agreement, to the extent that they restrict, eliminate or otherwise modify the duties and liabilities, including fiduciary duties, of the General Partner or any other Indemnitee otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the Partners to replace such other duties and liabilities of the General Partner or such other Indemnitee.
(f) The Unitholders hereby authorize the General Partner, on behalf of the Partnership as a partner or member of a Group Member, to approve of actions by the general partner or managing member of such Group Member similar to those actions permitted to be taken by the General Partner pursuant to this Section 7.9.
Model Rules of Procedure The procedure before the Panel shall be conducted in accordance with the Model Rules of Procedure set out in Annex 12 (Model Rules of Procedure). Exceptionally, the disputing Parties may agree on different rules to be applied by the Panel. 2. The Model Rules of Procedure are necessary for the good development of all the steps in this Chapter. In addition, these rules shall regulate the development of the procedure, pursuant to the following principles: (a) the procedures shall ensure the right to at least one hearing before the Panel, as well as the opportunity for each disputing Party to provide initial and rebuttal written submissions, and allow the use of any technological means to ensure its authenticity; and (b) the hearings before the Panel, the deliberations, as well as all the submissions and communications submitted during the hearings, shall be confidential.
Certain Rules of Interpretation In this Agreement, unless otherwise specified:
Calculation of Amounts; Binding Effect of Interpretations and Actions of Master Servicer The Master Servicer will compute the amount of all distributions to be made on the Certificates and all losses to be allocated to the Certificates. In the event that the Master Servicer concludes that any ambiguity or uncertainty exists in any provisions of this Agreement relating to distributions to be made on the Certificates, the allocation of losses to the Certificates or otherwise, the interpretation of such provisions and any actions taken by the Master Servicer in good faith to implement such interpretation shall be binding upon Certificateholders.
Rules of Procedure By referring any specific grievance to be dealt with in the expedited arbitration procedure it is understood and agreed that the matter is to be dealt with in accordance with the Rules of Procedure attached to this Agreement as Appendix 1.
Suspension and termination of procedure 1. The disputing Parties may agree to suspend the work of the Panel at any time for a period not exceeding 12 months following the date of such agreement. In any event, if the work of the Panel has been suspended for more than 12 months, the authority of the Panel shall lapse, unless the disputing Parties agree otherwise. If the authority of the Panel lapses and the disputing Parties have not reached an agreement on the settlement of the dispute, nothing in this Article shall prevent a Party from requesting a new proceeding regarding the same matter.
2. At any time prior to the release of the Panel report, the Parties may agree to terminate the procedures before a Panel by jointly notifying the chair of the Panel on this respect.
Amendments to Servicing Agreements, Modification of Standard Provisions (a) Subject to the prior written consent of the Trustee pursuant to Section 3.07(b), the Master Servicer from time to time may, to the extent permitted by the applicable Servicing Agreement, make such modifications and amendments to such Servicing Agreement as the Master Servicer deems necessary or appropriate to confirm or carry out more fully the intent and purpose of such Servicing Agreement and the duties, responsibilities and obligations to be performed by the Servicer thereunder. Such modifications may only be made if they are consistent with the REMIC Provisions, as evidenced by an Opinion of Counsel. Prior to the issuance of any modification or amendment, the Master Servicer shall deliver to the Trustee such Opinion of Counsel and an Officer's Certificate setting forth (i) the provision that is to be modified or amended, (ii) the modification or amendment that the Master Servicer desires to issue and (iii) the reason or reasons for such proposed amendment or modification.
(b) The Trustee shall consent to any amendment or supplement to a Servicing Agreement proposed by the Master Servicer pursuant to Section 3.07(a), which consent and amendment shall not require the consent of any Certificateholder if it is (i) for the purpose of curing any mistake or ambiguity or to further effect or protect the rights of the Certificateholders or (ii) for any other purpose, provided such amendment or supplement for such other purpose cannot reasonably be expected to adversely affect Certificateholders. The lack of reasonable expectation of an adverse effect on Certificateholders may be established through the delivery to the Trustee of (i) an Opinion of Counsel to such effect or (ii) written notification from each Rating Agency to the effect that such amendment or supplement will not result in reduction of the current rating assigned by that Rating Agency to the Certificates. Notwithstanding the two immediately preceding sentences, the Trustee may, in its discretion, decline to enter into or consent to any such supplement or amendment if its own rights, duties or immunities shall be adversely affected.
(i) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 3.07, the Master Servicer from time to time may, without the consent of any Certificateholder or the Trustee, enter into an amendment (A) to an Other Servicing Agreement for the purpose of (i) eliminating or reducing Month End Interest and (ii) providing for the remittance of Full Unscheduled Principal Receipts by the applicable Servicer to the Master Servicer not later than the 24th day of each month (or if such day is not a Business Day, on the previous Business Day) or (B) to the WFHM Servicing Agreement for the purpose of changing the applicable Remittance Date to the 18th day of each month (or if such day is not a Business Day, on the previous Business Day).
(ii) The Master Servicer may direct WFHM to enter into an amendment to the WFHM Servicing Agreement for the purposes described in Sections 3.07(c)(i)(B) and 10.01(b)(iii).
Governing Law; Choice of Forum; Service of Process; Jury Trial Waiver (a) The validity, interpretation and enforcement of this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements (except as otherwise provided therein) and any dispute arising out of the relationship between the parties hereto, whether in contract, tort, equity or otherwise, shall be governed by the internal laws of the State of New York but excluding any principles of conflicts of law or other rule of law that would cause the application of the law of any jurisdiction other than the laws of the State of New York.
(b) Holdings, the Parent Borrower, the other Loan Parties, Agent and Lenders irrevocably consent and submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York and the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, whichever Agent may elect, and waive any objection based on venue or forum non conveniens with respect to any action instituted therein arising under this Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements or in any way connected with or related or incidental to the dealings of the parties hereto in respect of this Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements or the transactions related hereto or thereto, in each case whether now existing or hereafter arising, and whether in contract, tort, equity or otherwise, and agree that any dispute with respect to any such matters shall be heard only in the courts described above (except that Agent and Lenders shall have the right to bring any action or proceeding against Holdings, the Parent Borrower, any other Loan Party or its or their property in the courts of any other jurisdiction which Agent deems necessary or appropriate in order to realize on the Collateral or to otherwise enforce its rights against Holdings, the Parent Borrower, any other Loan Party or its or their property).
(c) Holdings, the Parent Borrower and the other Loan Parties hereby waive personal service of any and all process upon it and consents that all such service of process may be made by certified mail (return receipt requested) directed to its address set forth herein and service so made shall be deemed to be completed five (5) days after the same shall have been so deposited in the U.S. mails, or, at Agent’s option, by service upon Holdings, the Parent Borrower and any other Loan Party in any other manner provided under the rules of any such courts.
(d) HOLDINGS, THE PARENT BORROWER, THE OTHER LOAN PARTIES, AGENT AND LENDERS EACH HEREBY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION ARISING UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE OTHER FINANCING AGREEMENTS OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH OR RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO THE DEALINGS OF THE PARTIES HERETO IN RESPECT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE OTHER FINANCING AGREEMENTS OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATED HERETO OR THERETO IN EACH CASE WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, AND WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT, EQUITY OR OTHERWISE. HOLDINGS, THE PARENT BORROWER, THE OTHER LOAN PARTIES, AGENT AND LENDERS EACH HEREBY AGREES AND CONSENTS THAT ANY SUCH CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION SHALL BE DECIDED BY COURT TRIAL WITHOUT A JURY AND THAT HOLDINGS, THE BORROWER, THE OTHER LOAN PARTIES, AGENT AND ANY LENDER MAY FILE AN ORIGINAL COUNTERPART OF A COPY OF THIS AGREEMENT WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENT OF THE PARTIES HERETO TO THE WAIVER OF THEIR RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.
(e) Agent and Secured Parties shall not have any liability to Holdings, the Parent Borrower or any other Loan Party (whether in tort, contract, equity or otherwise) for losses suffered by Holdings, the Parent Borrower or such other Loan Party in connection with, arising out of, or in any way related to the transactions or relationships contemplated by this Agreement, or any act, omission or event occurring in connection herewith, unless it is determined by a final and non-appealable judgment or court order of competent jurisdiction binding on Agent, or such Secured Party or Secured Parties, that the losses were the result of acts or omissions constituting gross negligence, bad faith, willful misconduct or material breach of its obligations under any Financing Agreement. Holdings, the Parent Borrower and each other Loan Party: (i) certifies that neither Agent nor any Lender nor any representative, agent or attorney acting for or on behalf of Agent or any Lender has represented, expressly or otherwise, that Agent or the Lenders would not, in the event of litigation, seek to enforce any of the waivers provided for in this Agreement or any of the other Financing Agreements and (ii) acknowledges that in entering into this Agreement and the other Financing Agreements, Agent and the Lenders are relying upon, among other things, the waivers and certifications set forth in this Section 12.1 and elsewhere herein and therein.
Interpretation; Absence of Presumption (a) It is understood and agreed that the specification of any dollar amount in the representations and warranties contained in this Agreement or the inclusion of any specific item in the Sellers Disclosure Letter is not intended to imply that such amounts or higher or lower amounts, or such items so included or other items, are or are not material, and no Party shall use the fact of the setting of any amount or the fact of the inclusion of any item in the Sellers Disclosure Letter in any dispute or controversy between the Parties as to whether any obligation, item or matter not described in this Agreement or included in the Sellers Disclosure Letter is or is not material for purposes of this Agreement.
(b) For the purposes of this Agreement, (i) words in the singular shall be held to include the plural and vice versa, and words of one gender shall be held to include the other gender as the context requires; (ii) references to the terms Article, Section, paragraph, Exhibit and Schedule are references to the Articles, Sections, paragraphs, Exhibits and Schedules to this Agreement unless otherwise specified; (iii) the terms “hereof,” “herein,” “hereby,” “hereto,” and derivative or similar words refer to this entire Agreement, including the Schedules and Exhibits hereto; (iv) references to “$” or cash shall mean U.S. dollars; (v) the word “including” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall mean “including without limitation,” unless otherwise specified; (vi) the word “or” shall not be exclusive; (vii) references to “written” or “in writing” include in electronic form; (viii) provisions shall apply, when appropriate, to successive events and transactions; (ix) Sellers and Purchasers have each participated in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement and if an ambiguity or question of interpretation should arise, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the Parties hereto and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or burdening any Party by virtue of the authorship of any of the provisions in this Agreement; (x) a reference to any Person includes such Person’s successors and permitted assigns; (xi) any reference to “days” shall mean calendar days unless Business Days are expressly specified; and (xii) when calculating the period of time before which, within which or following which any act is to be done or step taken pursuant to this Agreement, the date that is the reference date in calculating such period shall be excluded and if the last day of such period is not a Business Day, the period shall end at the close of business on the next succeeding Business Day.
(c) If the Closing shall occur, notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, any payment obligation of Purchasers hereunder shall be a joint and several obligation of Purchasers and the Transferred Entities.
Adoption of Procedures State Street and each Fund may from time to time adopt such procedures as they agree upon, and State Street may conclusively assume that no procedure approved or directed by a Fund, a Fund’s or Portfolio’s accountants or other advisors conflicts with or violates any requirements of the prospectus, articles of incorporation, bylaws, declaration of trust, any applicable law, rule or regulation, or any order, decree or agreement by which the Fund may be bound. Each Fund will be responsible for notifying State Street of any changes in statutes, regulations, rules, requirements or policies which may impact State Street responsibilities or procedures under this Agreement.
