PRELIMINARY APPROVAL OF SETTLEMENT Promptly upon execution of this Stipulation, Lead Plaintiffs will move for preliminary approval of the Settlement, certification of the Settlement Class for settlement purposes only, and the scheduling of a hearing for consideration of final approval of the Settlement, which motion shall be unopposed by Defendants. Concurrently with the motion for preliminary approval, Lead Plaintiffs shall apply to the Court for, and Defendants shall agree to, entry of the Preliminary Approval Order, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A.
MOTION FOR PRELIMINARY APPROVAL The Parties agree to jointly prepare and file a motion for preliminary approval (“Motion for Preliminary Approval”) that complies with the Court’s current checklist for Preliminary Approvals.
Preliminary Approval Order “Preliminary Approval Order” means the order of the Court preliminarily approving this Settlement Agreement.
Purchaser's Election to Commence Foreclosure Proceedings (a) In connection with any Mortgage Loan identified in a report under Section 2.01(a)(i)(B), the Purchaser may elect to instruct the Company to cause, to the extent that the Company as Master Servicer is granted such authority in the related Servicing Agreement, the related Servicer to proceed with the Commencement of Foreclosure as soon as practicable. Such election must be evidenced by written notice received by the Company by 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the third Business Day following the delivery of such report under Section 2.01(a)(i).
(b) Within two Business Days of making any Election to Foreclose, the Purchaser shall remit to the Company, for deposit in the Collateral Fund, an amount, as calculated by the Company, equal to 125% of the current unpaid principal balance of the Mortgage Loan and three months interest on the Mortgage Loan at the applicable Mortgage Interest Rate. If and when any such Mortgage Loan is brought current by the mortgagor, all amounts in the Collateral Fund in respect of such Mortgage Loan (after adjustment for all permitted withdrawals and deposits pursuant to this Agreement) shall be released to the Purchaser if and to the extent that reimbursement therefor from amounts paid by the mortgagor is not prohibited pursuant to the Pooling and Servicing Agreement or the related Servicing Agreement, applicable law or the related mortgage note. The terms of this Agreement will no longer apply to the servicing of any Mortgage Loan upon the failure of the Purchaser to deposit the above amounts relating to the Mortgage Loan within two Business Days of the Election to Foreclose subject to Section 3.01.
(c) With respect to any Mortgage Loan as to which the Purchaser has made an Election to Foreclose, the related Servicer shall continue to service the Mortgage Loan in accordance with its customary procedures (other than Commencement of Foreclosure as provided herein). In connection therewith, the Company shall have the same rights to make withdrawals for Monthly Advances and Liquidations Expenses from the Collateral Fund as are provided under Section 2.02(e), and the Company shall make reimbursements thereto to the limited extent provided under such subsection in accordance with its customary procedures. The Company shall not be required to cause, to the extent that the Company as Master Servicer is granted such authority in the related Servicing Agreement, the related Servicer to proceed with the Commencement of Foreclosure if (i) the same is stayed as a result of the mortgagor's bankruptcy or is otherwise barred by applicable law, or to the extent that all legal conditions precedent thereto have not yet been complied with, or (ii) the Company believes there is a breach of representations or warranties by the Company, a Servicer, or a Seller, which may result in a repurchase or substitution of such Mortgage Loan, or (iii) the Company or related Servicer reasonably believes the Mortgaged Property may be contaminated with or affected by hazardous wastes or hazardous substances (and, without limiting the related Servicer's right not to proceed with the Commencement of Foreclosure, the Company supplies the Purchaser with information supporting such belief). Any foreclosure that has been initiated may be discontinued (x) without notice to the Purchaser if the Mortgage Loan has been brought current or if a refinancing or prepayment occurs with respect to the Mortgage Loan (including by means of a short payoff approved by the Purchaser) or (y) with notice to the Purchaser if the related Servicer has reached the terms of a forbearance agreement unless instructed otherwise by the Purchaser within two Business Days of such notification. Any such instruction shall be based upon a decision that such forbearance agreement is not in conformity with reasonable servicing practices.
(d) Upon the occurrence of a liquidation with respect to any Mortgage Loan as to which the Purchaser made an Election to Foreclose and as to which the related Servicer proceeded with the Commencement of Foreclosure in accordance with subsection (c) above, the Company shall calculate the amount, if any, by which the unpaid principal balance of the Mortgage Loan at the time of liquidation (plus all unreimbursed interest and servicing advances and Liquidation Expenses in connection therewith other than those paid from the Collateral Fund) exceeds the actual sales price obtained for the related Mortgaged Property, and the Company shall withdraw the amount of such excess from the Collateral Fund, shall remit the same to the Trust Estate and in its capacity as Master Servicer shall apply such amount as additional Liquidation Proceeds pursuant to the Pooling and Servicing Agreement. After making such withdrawal, all amounts remaining in the Collateral Fund (after adjustment for all withdrawals and deposits pursuant to subsection (c) in respect of such Mortgage Loan shall be released to the Purchaser.
Application of Settlement Agreement 10.1 This Settlement Agreement shall apply to, be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, CAG and the Releasees and Downstream Releasees identified in Section 2 above.
Bankruptcy Court Approval (a) The Debtors shall file the Bid Procedures Motion with the Bankruptcy Court no later than two (2) Business Days after the commencement of the Chapter 11 Cases (the “Petition Date”).
(b) The Parties shall use their respective commercially reasonable efforts to have (i) the Bankruptcy Court enter the Bid Procedures Order as promptly as practicable after the filing of the Bid Procedures Motion and (ii) the Bankruptcy Court enter the Sale Order as promptly as practicable after the completion of the Auction but, in any event, in each case in compliance with the Milestones. Debtors and Buyer shall cooperate in good faith to obtain the Bankruptcy Court’s entry of the Bid Procedures Order, the Sale Order, and any other Order reasonably necessary in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including furnishing affidavits, nonconfidential financial information, or other documents or information for filing with the Bankruptcy Court and making such advisors of Debtors and Buyer and their respective Affiliates available to testify before the Bankruptcy Court for the purposes of, among other things, providing adequate assurances of performance by Buyer as required under Section 365 of the Bankruptcy Code, and demonstrating that Buyer is a “good faith” purchaser under Section 363(m) of the Bankruptcy Code. Buyer agrees that it will promptly take such actions as are reasonably requested by Seller to assist in obtaining entry of the Bid Procedures Order, the Sale Order, and any other Order reasonably necessary, consistent with the above.
(c) The Debtors shall give notice under the Bankruptcy Code and the Bankruptcy Rules of the request for the relief specified in the Bid Procedures and Sale Motion to all Persons entitled to such notice, including all Persons that have asserted Encumbrances on the Purchased Assets and all non-debtor parties to the Assumed Contracts, and other appropriate notice as required by the Bankruptcy Rules and the local rules of the Bankruptcy Court, including such additional notice as the Bankruptcy Court shall direct or as Buyer may reasonably request, and provide appropriate opportunity for hearing, to all parties entitled thereto, of all motions, orders, hearings or other proceedings in the Bankruptcy Court relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. Debtors shall be responsible for making all appropriate filings relating to this Agreement with the Bankruptcy Court, and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to submit such filings to Buyer no less than two Business Days prior to their filing with the Bankruptcy Court for Buyer’s prior review and comment, which comments the Debtors shall consider and attempt to incorporate in good faith, in consultation with Buyer.
(d) In the event the entry of the Bid Procedures Order, the Sale Order or any other Orders of the Bankruptcy Court relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby shall be appealed by any Person (or if any petition for certiorari or motion for reconsideration, amendment, clarification, modification, vacation, stay, rehearing or reargument shall be filed with respect to the Bid Procedures Order, the Sale Order or other such Order), Debtors shall use commercially reasonable efforts to defend such appeal.
(e) The Debtors and Buyer acknowledge that this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby are subject to (i) entry of, as applicable, the Bid Procedures Order and the Sale Order and (ii) the consideration by the Debtors and Seller of higher or better competing bids (whether through any and all types of consideration, including, without limitation, cash, assumed liabilities or credit bid) in respect of a sale, reorganization, or other disposition of the Debtors or Seller, the Business or the Purchased Assets. In the event of any discrepancy between this Agreement and the Bid Procedures Order and the Sale Order, the Bid Procedures Order and the Sale Order shall govern; provided, however, that nothing in this Section 7.08(e) shall limit the rights of Buyer hereunder in the event that any Bid Procedures Order or any Sale Order does not comply with the terms of this Agreement.
(f) During the period commencing on the date hereof and ending on the earlier of (i) the date of entry of the Bid Procedures Order or (ii) the date this Agreement is terminated as provided in Article 10, Seller will not, nor will it permit any of its Affiliates or anyone acting on behalf of any of them to, solicit, negotiate or enter into any discussions or negotiations with any Person (other than Buyer or its representatives) in connection with any Alternative Transaction; provided that Seller shall be permitted to furnish or cause to be furnished to any Person any information concerning the Purchased Assets or the Business. Seller shall, immediately upon the execution of this Agreement, cease any and all ongoing discussions with any other potential purchaser of all or any portion of the Purchased Assets and/or the Business and shall cause its representatives and Affiliates and their respective representatives to do the same. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, from the date of entry of the Bid Procedures Order and until the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated, Buyer agrees and acknowledges that Seller, Debtors and their Affiliates, including through their representatives, are and may continue soliciting and/or responding to inquiries, proposals or offers from third parties in connection with any Alternative Transaction, including, without limitation, inquiries, proposals or offers related to the Purchased Assets, and may facilitate (and perform any and all other acts related thereto), including, without limitation, furnishing any information (subject to entering into a customary confidentiality agreement) with respect to, any effort or attempt by any Person to seek to do any of the foregoing in connection with an Alternative Transaction. Seller shall promptly notify Buyer of receipt by Debtors or any of their representatives of any such inquiries, proposals or offers; provided that, as to any inquiries, proposals or offers received prior to entry of the Bid Procedures Order, Seller shall provide Buyer with a copy of any such inquiries, proposals or offers within two (2) Business Days of receipt by the Debtors or their representatives.
(g) The Sale Order shall, among other things, (i) approve, pursuant to sections 105, 363, and 365 of the Bankruptcy Code, (A) the execution, delivery and performance by Seller of this Agreement, (B) the sale of the Purchased Assets to Buyer on the terms set forth herein and free and clear of all Encumbrances (other than Encumbrances included in the Assumed Liabilities and Permitted Encumbrances), and (C) the performance by Debtors of their respective obligations under this Agreement; (ii) authorize and empower Seller to assume and assign to Buyer the Assumed Contracts; (iii) find that Buyer is a “good faith” buyer within the meaning of section 363(m) of the Bankruptcy Code, find that Buyer is not a successor to any Seller, and grant Buyer the protections of section 363(m) of the Bankruptcy Code; (iv) find that Buyer shall have no Liability or responsibility for any Liability or other obligation of Seller arising under or related to the Purchased Assets other than as expressly set forth in this Agreement, including successor or vicarious Liabilities of any kind or character, including any theory of antitrust, successor, or transferee Liability, labor law, de facto merger, or substantial continuity; (v) find that Buyer has provided adequate assurance (as that term is used in section 365 of the Bankruptcy Code) of future performance in connection with the assumption of the Assumed Contracts; and (vi) find that Buyer shall have no Liability for any Excluded Liability.
(h) Debtors shall comply with the Milestones.
(i) If an Auction is conducted, and Buyer is not the Successful Bidder at the Auction but is the next highest bidder after the Successful Bidder at the Auction, Buyer shall serve as a Backup Bidder and keep its bid to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement (as the same may be improved upon in the Auction) open and irrevocable, notwithstanding any right of Buyer to otherwise terminate this Agreement pursuant to Article 10 hereof, until the earlier of (i) the Backup Bid Expiration Date (as defined in the Bid Procedures) or (ii) the first Business Day after the closing of a transaction with a Successful Bidder for the Purchased Assets that is not Buyer; provided, however, that if prior to the Backup Bid Expiration Date, a Successful Bidder for the Purchased Assets that is not Buyer fails to consummate its transaction as a result of a breach or failure to perform on the part of such Successful Bidder, or because a condition in such Successful Bidder’s purchase agreement cannot otherwise be met, and the purchase agreement with such Successful Bidder is terminated, Buyer (as the Backup Bidder) will be deemed to have the new prevailing bid, and Seller will be authorized, without further order of the Bankruptcy Court, to, and Buyer (as the Backup Bidder) shall, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement by the later of (x) ten (10) days of becoming the Successful Bidder and (ii) the Backup Bid Expiration Date, on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement (as the same may be improved upon in the Auction).
Purchaser's Election to Delay Foreclosure Proceedings (a) The Purchaser shall be deemed to direct the Company to direct (to the extent that the Company as Master Servicer is granted such authority in the related Servicing Agreement) the related Servicer that in the event that the Company does not receive written notice of the Purchaser's election pursuant to subsection (b) below within 24 hours (exclusive of any intervening non-Business Days) of transmission of the notice provided by the Company under Section 2.01 (a) (ii) subject to extension as set forth in Section 2.02(b), the related Servicer may proceed with the Commencement of Foreclosure in respect of such Mortgage Loan in accordance with its normal foreclosure policies without further notice to the Purchaser. Any foreclosure that has been initiated may be discontinued (i) without notice to the Purchaser if the Mortgage Loan has been brought current or if a refinancing or prepayment occurs with respect to the Mortgage Loan (including by means of a short payoff approved by the related Servicer) or (ii) if the related Servicer has reached the terms of a forbearance agreement with the borrower. In the latter case, the related Servicer may complete such forbearance agreement unless instructed otherwise by the Purchaser within two Business Days notification.
(b) In connection with any Mortgage Loan with respect to which a notice under Section 2.01(a)(ii) has been given to the Purchaser, the Purchaser may elect to instruct the Company to cause, to the extent that the Company as Master Servicer is granted such authority in the related Servicing Agreement, the related Servicer to delay the Commencement of Foreclosure until such time as the Purchaser determines that the related Servicer may proceed with the Commencement of Foreclosure. Such election must be evidenced by written notice received within 24 hours (exclusive of any intervening non-Business Days) of transmission of the notice provided by the Company under Section 2.01(a)(ii). Such 24 hour period shall be extended for no longer than an additional four Business Days after the receipt of the information if the Purchaser requests additional information related to such foreclosure; provided, however, that the Purchaser will have at least one Business Day to respond to any requested additional information. Any such additional information shall be provided only to the extent it (i) is not confidential in nature and (ii) is obtainable by the related Servicer from existing reports, certificates or statements or is otherwise readily accessible to its servicing personnel. The Purchaser agrees that it has no right to deal with the mortgagor during such period. However, if such servicing activities include acceptance of a deed-in-lieu of foreclosure or short payoff, the Purchaser will be notified and given two Business Days to respond.
(c) With respect to any Mortgage Loan as to which the Purchaser has made an Election to Delay Foreclosure, the Purchaser shall obtain a Current Appraisal as soon as practicable, but in no event more than 15 business days thereafter, and shall provide the Company with a copy of such Current Appraisal.
(d) Within two Business Days of making any Election to Delay Foreclosure, the Purchaser shall remit by wire transfer to the Company, for deposit in the Collateral Fund, an amount, as calculated by the Company, equal to the sum of (i) 125% of the greater of the unpaid principal balance of the Mortgage Loan and the value shown in the Current Appraisal referred to in subsection (c) above (or, if such Current Appraisal has not yet been obtained, the Company's estimate thereof, in which case the required deposit under this subsection shall be adjusted upon obtaining such Current Appraisal), and (ii) three months' interest on the Mortgage Loan at the applicable Mortgage Interest Rate. If any Election to Delay Foreclosure extends for a period in excess of three months (such excess period being referred to herein as the "Excess Period"), within two Business Days the Purchaser shall remit by wire transfer in advance to the Company for deposit in the Collateral Fund the amount of each additional month's interest, as calculated by the Company, equal to interest on the Mortgage Loan at the applicable Mortgage Interest Rate for the Excess Period. The terms of this Agreement will no longer apply to the servicing of any Mortgage Loan upon the failure of the Purchaser to deposit any of the above amounts relating to the Mortgage Loan within two Business Days of the Election to Delay Foreclosure or within two Business Days of the commencement of the Excess Period subject to Section 3.01.
(e) With respect to any Mortgage Loan as to which the Purchaser has made an Election to Delay Foreclosure, the Company may withdraw from the Collateral Fund from time to time amounts necessary to reimburse the related Servicer for all related Monthly Advances and Liquidation Expenses thereafter made by such Servicer in accordance with the Pooling and Servicing Agreement and the related Servicing Agreement. To the extent that the amount of any such Liquidation Expenses is determined by the Company based on estimated costs, and the actual costs are subsequently determined to be higher, the Company may withdraw the additional amount from the Collateral Fund. In the event that the Mortgage Loan is brought current by the mortgagor and the foreclosure action is discontinued, the amounts so withdrawn from the Collateral Fund shall be redeposited if and to the extent that reimbursement therefor from amounts paid by the mortgagor is not prohibited pursuant to the Pooling and Servicing Agreement or the related Servicing Agreement, applicable law or the related mortgage note. Except as provided in the preceding sentence, amounts withdrawn from the Collateral Fund to cover Monthly Advances and Liquidation Expenses shall not be redeposited therein or otherwise reimbursed to the Purchaser. If and when any such Mortgage Loan is brought current by the mortgagor, all amounts remaining in the Collateral Fund in respect of such Mortgage Loan (after adjustment for all permitted withdrawals and deposits pursuant to this subsection) shall be released to the Purchaser.
(f) With respect to any Mortgage Loan as to which the Purchaser has made an Election to Delay Foreclosure, the related Servicer shall continue to service the Mortgage Loan in accordance with its customary procedures (other than the delay in Commencement of Foreclosure as provided herein). If and when the Purchaser shall notify the Company that it believes that it is appropriate to do so, the related Servicer may proceed with the Commencement of Foreclosure. In any event, if the Mortgage Loan is not brought current by the mortgagor by the time the loan becomes 6 months delinquent, the Purchaser's election shall no longer be effective and at the Purchaser's option, either (i) the Purchaser shall purchase the Mortgage Loan from the related Trust Estate at a purchase price equal to the fair market value as shown on the Current Appraisal, to be paid by (x) applying any balance in the Collateral Fund to such to such purchase price, and (y) to the extent of any deficiency, by wire transfer of immediately available funds from the Purchaser to the Company for deposit in the related Certificate Account; or (ii) the related Servicer shall proceed with the Commencement of Foreclosure.
(g) Upon the occurrence of a liquidation with respect to any Mortgage Loan as to which the Purchaser made an Election to Delay Foreclosure and as to which the related Servicer proceeded with the Commencement of Foreclosure in accordance with subsection (f) above, the Company shall calculate the amount, if any, by which the value shown on the Current Appraisal obtained under subsection (c) exceeds the actual sales price obtained for the related Mortgaged Property (net of Liquidation Expenses and accrued interest related to the extended foreclosure period), and the Company shall withdraw the amount of such excess from the Collateral Fund, shall remit the same to the Trust Estate and in its capacity as Master Servicer shall apply such amount as additional Liquidation Proceeds pursuant to the Pooling and Servicing Agreement. After making such withdrawal, all amounts remaining in the Collateral Fund in respect of such Mortgage Loan (after adjustment for all permitted withdrawals and deposits pursuant to this Agreement) shall be released to the Purchaser.
PROCEDURE FOR APPROVAL OF SETTLEMENT Acceptance of this Settlement Agreement shall be sought at a hearing of the Central Regional Council of the MFDA on a date agreed to by counsel for Staff and the Respondent.
Preliminary Approval A. As soon as practicable after this Agreement is fully executed, for settlement purposes only, the Plaintiffs and Co-Lead Counsel shall request the Court to make preliminary findings, enter the Preliminary Approval Order granting conditional certification of the Class, subject to final findings and ratification in the Final Order and Judgment, and appoint the Plaintiffs as class representatives and Co-Lead Counsel as counsel for the Class. Neither Defendant nor Defendant’s Counsel will object to such requests for the purposes of effectuating the Settlement. Such agreement not to object to class certification shall extend only as necessary to effectuate the Settlement. As set forth in the draft Preliminary Approval Order, the Plaintiffs shall request the Court to enter an order:
1. preliminarily approving and finding this Agreement and the Settlement as being fair, reasonable, and adequate;
2. conditionally certifying the Litigation as a settlement class action under Rule 23(b)(3) and (e) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure;
3. appointing Plaintiffs as class representatives and Co-Lead Counsel as counsel for the Class;
4. preliminarily approving the form, manner, and content of the Class Notice, as provided herein, and finding that notice is fair, reasonable, and the best notice practicable under the circumstances in connection with notifying the Class Members of their rights and responsibilities under the Settlement and satisfying due process and Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure;
5. appointing the Settlement Administrator to send Class Notice and administer the Settlement;
6. providing that Class Members will have until a date certain to object to or file a request for exclusion from the Settlement, as provided herein;
Waiver of Notice; Approval of Meeting; Approval of Minutes The transactions of any meeting of Limited Partners, however called and noticed, and whenever held, shall be as valid as if it had occurred at a meeting duly held after regular call and notice, if a quorum is present either in person or by proxy. Attendance of a Limited Partner at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of the meeting, except when the Limited Partner attends the meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened; and except that attendance at a meeting is not a waiver of any right to disapprove the consideration of matters required to be included in the notice of the meeting, but not so included, if the disapproval is expressly made at the meeting.
