SERVICING AGREEMENT by and among CHASE AUTO OWNER TRUST [ ] as Issuer JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Servicer and as Indenture Trustee Dated as of [ ]
Exhibit 10.3
by and among
CHASE AUTO OWNER TRUST [ ]
as Issuer
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Servicer
and
[ ],
as Indenture Trustee
Dated as of [ ]
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | ||||||
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND USAGE |
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SECTION 1.1 |
Definitions | 1 | ||||
SECTION 1.2 |
Other Interpretive Provisions | 1 | ||||
ARTICLE II CUSTODY OF RECEIVABLES FILES |
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SECTION 2.1 |
Custody | 2 | ||||
SECTION 2.2 |
Safekeeping | 2 | ||||
SECTION 2.3 |
Maintenance of and Access to Records | 2 | ||||
SECTION 2.4 |
Release of Documents | 3 | ||||
SECTION 2.5 |
Instructions; Authority to Act | 3 | ||||
SECTION 2.6 |
Custodian’s Indemnification | 3 | ||||
SECTION 2.7 |
Effective Period and Termination | 3 | ||||
ARTICLE III ADMINISTRATION AND SERVICING OF RECEIVABLES AND TRUST PROPERTY |
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SECTION 3.1 |
Duties of Servicer | 4 | ||||
SECTION 3.2 |
Collection of Receivable Payments | 5 | ||||
SECTION 3.3 |
Realization Upon Receivables | 6 | ||||
SECTION 3.4 |
Maintenance of Security Interests in Financed Vehicles | 7 | ||||
SECTION 3.5 |
Covenants of Servicer | 7 | ||||
SECTION 3.6 |
Purchase of Receivables Upon Breach | 8 | ||||
SECTION 3.7 |
Servicing Fee | 8 | ||||
SECTION 3.8 |
Servicer’s Certificate | 8 | ||||
SECTION 3.9 |
Annual Officer’s Certificate; Notice of Servicer Replacement Event | 9 | ||||
SECTION 3.10 |
Annual Registered Public Accounting Firm Attestation Report | 9 | ||||
SECTION 3.11 |
Servicer Expenses | 9 | ||||
SECTION 3.12 |
1934 Act Filings | 10 | ||||
SECTION 3.13 |
Compliance with the FDIC Rule | 10 | ||||
ARTICLE IV DISTRIBUTIONS; ACCOUNTS; STATEMENTS TO THE CERTIFICATEHOLDER AND THE NOTEHOLDERS |
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SECTION 4.1 |
Establishment of Accounts | 10 | ||||
SECTION 4.2 |
Remittances | 12 | ||||
SECTION 4.3 |
Additional Deposits and Payments | 13 | ||||
SECTION 4.4 |
Distributions | 13 | ||||
SECTION 4.5 |
[Net Deposits | 14 | ||||
SECTION 4.6 |
Statements to Certificateholder and Noteholders | 14 | ||||
SECTION 4.7 |
No Duty to Confirm | 16 | ||||
ARTICLE V THE SERVICER |
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SECTION 5.1 |
Representations of Servicer | 16 | ||||
SECTION 5.2 |
Indemnities of Servicer | 17 | ||||
SECTION 5.3 |
Merger or Consolidation of, or Assumption of the Obligations of, Servicer | 18 |
i
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(Continued)
Page | ||||||
SECTION 5.4 |
Limitation on Liability of Servicer and Others | 19 | ||||
SECTION 5.5 |
Delegation of Duties | 19 | ||||
SECTION 5.6 |
The Bank Not to Resign as Servicer | 19 | ||||
SECTION 5.7 |
Servicer May Own Notes | 20 | ||||
ARTICLE VI REPLACEMENT OF SERVICER |
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SECTION 6.1 |
Replacement of Servicer | 20 | ||||
SECTION 6.2 |
Notification to Noteholders | 21 | ||||
ARTICLE VII OPTIONAL PURCHASE |
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SECTION 7.1 |
Optional Purchase of Trust Estate | 21 | ||||
ARTICLE VIII MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS |
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SECTION 8.1 |
Amendment | 22 | ||||
SECTION 8.2 |
Protection of Title | 23 | ||||
SECTION 8.3 |
Notices, Etc | 24 | ||||
SECTION 8.4 |
Choice of Law | 24 | ||||
SECTION 8.5 |
Headings | 24 | ||||
SECTION 8.6 |
Counterparts | 24 | ||||
SECTION 8.7 |
Waivers | 24 | ||||
SECTION 8.8 |
Entire Agreement | 24 | ||||
SECTION 8.9 |
Severability of Provisions | 25 | ||||
SECTION 8.10 |
Binding Effect | 25 | ||||
SECTION 8.11 |
Cumulative Remedies | 25 | ||||
SECTION 8.12 |
Nonpetition Covenant | 25 | ||||
SECTION 8.13 |
Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial | 25 | ||||
SECTION 8.14 |
Limitation of Liability | 26 | ||||
SECTION 8.15 |
Third-Party Beneficiaries | 26 | ||||
SECTION 8.16 |
Information Requests | 27 | ||||
SECTION 8.17 |
Regulation AB | 27 | ||||
SECTION 8.18 |
Information to Be Provided by the Indenture Trustee | 27 | ||||
SECTION 8.19 |
Form 8-K Filings | 28 | ||||
SECTION 8.20 |
Rights of the Certificateholder | 29 |
Exhibit A | Servicing Criteria to be Addressed in Indenture Trustee’s Assessment of Compliance | |
Exhibit B | Form of Indenture Trustee’s Annual Certification | |
Exhibit C | Form of Indenture Trustee’s Annual Certification Regarding Item 1117 and Item 1119 of Regulation XX |
xx
SERVICING AGREEMENT, dated as of [ ] (together with all exhibits, schedules and appendices hereto and as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified and in effect, this “Agreement”), by and among CHASE AUTO OWNER TRUST [ ] (the “Issuer”), a Delaware statutory trust, JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association (the “Bank”), as servicer (in such capacity, the “Servicer”), and [ ], a [ ] organized under the laws of [ ], as indenture trustee (the “Indenture Trustee”).
WHEREAS, the Issuer purchased from Chase Auto Receivables LLC (the “Depositor”) a portfolio of motor vehicle receivables, including motor vehicle retail installment sales contracts and/or direct loans that are secured by new and used automobiles and light-duty trucks;
WHEREAS, the Bank is willing to service such motor vehicle receivables and related property on behalf of the Issuer;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants herein contained, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND USAGE
SECTION 1.1 Definitions. Except as otherwise specified herein or as the context may otherwise require, capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein are defined in Appendix A to the Sale Agreement, dated as of [ ], between the Depositor and the Issuer, which also contains rules as to usage that are applicable herein.
SECTION 1.2 Other Interpretive Provisions. For purposes of this Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires: (a) accounting terms not otherwise defined in this Agreement, and accounting terms partly defined in this Agreement to the extent not defined, shall have the respective meanings given to them under GAAP (provided, that, to the extent that the definitions in this Agreement and GAAP conflict, the definitions in this Agreement shall control); (b) terms defined in Article 9 of the UCC as in effect in the relevant jurisdiction and not otherwise defined in this Agreement are used as defined in that Article; (c) the words “hereof,” “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement; (d) references to any Article, Section, Schedule, Appendix or Exhibit are references to Articles, Sections, Schedules, Appendices and Exhibits in or to this Agreement and references to any paragraph, subsection, clause or other subdivision within any Section or definition refer to such paragraph, subsection, clause or other subdivision of such Section or definition; (e) the term “including” and all variations thereof means “including without limitation”; (f) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, references to any law or regulation refer to that law or regulation as amended from time to time and include any successor law or regulation; and (g) references to any Person include that Person’s successors and assigns.
ARTICLE II
CUSTODY OF RECEIVABLES FILES
SECTION 2.1 Custody. To assure uniform quality in servicing the Receivables and to reduce administrative costs, the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee, upon the execution and delivery of this Agreement, hereby revocably appoint the Servicer, and the Servicer hereby accepts such appointment, to act as the agent of the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee as custodian of the following documents or instruments, but only to the extent held in tangible paper form or electronic form, which are hereby or will hereby be constructively delivered to the Indenture Trustee (or its agent or designee), as pledgee of the Issuer pursuant to the Indenture with respect to each Receivable (but only to the extent applicable to such Receivable and only to the extent held in tangible paper form) (the “Receivable Files”):
(a) the fully executed original of the retail motor vehicle installment loan or promissory note and security agreement related to such Receivable (with respect to tangible chattel paper) or an “authoritative copy” (as such term is used in Section 9-105 of the UCC) of the Receivable (with respect to electronic chattel paper) or, if no such original executed Receivable or authoritative copy exists, a copy thereof, including any written amendments or extensions thereto;
(b) any and all other documents that the Servicer or the Depositor keeps on file, in accordance with its Customary Servicing Practices, relating to a Receivable, an Obligor or a Financed Vehicle (but only to the extent applicable to such Receivable and only to the extent held in tangible paper form or electronic form).
The foregoing appointment of the Servicer is deemed to be made with due care.
SECTION 2.2 Safekeeping. The Servicer, in its capacity as custodian, shall hold the Receivable Files for the benefit of the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee. In performing its duties as custodian, the Servicer shall act in accordance with its Customary Servicing Practices. The Servicer may, in accordance with its Customary Servicing Practices: (i) maintain all or a portion of the Receivable Files in electronic form and (ii) maintain custody of all or any portion of the Receivable Files with one or more of its agents or designees.
SECTION 2.3 Maintenance of and Access to Records. The Servicer will maintain each Receivable File in the United States (it being understood that the Receivable Files, or any part thereof, may be maintained at the offices of any Person to whom the Servicer has delegated responsibilities in accordance with Section 5.5). The Servicer will make available to the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee or their duly authorized representatives, attorneys or auditors a list of locations of the Receivable Files upon request. The Servicer will provide access to the Receivable Files, and the related accounts records, and computer systems maintained by the Servicer at such times as the Issuer or the Indenture Trustee direct, but only upon reasonable notice and during the normal business hours, which do not unreasonably interfere with the Servicer’s normal operations, at the respective offices of the Servicer.
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SECTION 2.4 Release of Documents. Upon written instructions from the Indenture Trustee, the Servicer will release or cause to be released any document in the Receivable Files to the Indenture Trustee, the Indenture Trustee’s agent or the Indenture Trustee’s designee, as the case may be, at such place or places as the Indenture Trustee may designate, as soon thereafter as is practicable, to the extent it does not unreasonably interfere with the Servicer’s normal operations. The Servicer shall not be responsible for any loss occasioned by the failure of the Indenture Trustee or its agent or designee to return any document or any delay in doing so. Any document so released will be handled by the Indenture Trustee with due care and returned to the Servicer for safekeeping as soon as the Indenture Trustee or its agent or designee, as the case may be, has no further need therefor.
SECTION 2.5 Instructions; Authority to Act. All instructions from the Indenture Trustee will be in writing and signed by an Authorized Officer of the Indenture Trustee, and the Servicer will be deemed to have received proper instructions with respect to the Receivable Files upon its receipt of such written instructions.
SECTION 2.6 Custodian’s Indemnification. Subject to Section 5.2, the Servicer as custodian will indemnify the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee for any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, compensatory damages, payments, costs, or expenses of any kind whatsoever that may be imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against the Issuer or the Indenture Trustee as the result of any improper act or omission in any way relating to the maintenance and custody by the Servicer as custodian of the Receivable Files; provided, however, that the Servicer will not be liable (i) to the Indenture Trustee or the Issuer for any portion of any such amount resulting from the willful misconduct, bad faith or negligence of the Indenture Trustee or the Issuer or (ii) to the Indenture Trustee for any portion of any such amount resulting from the failure of the Indenture Trustee, the Indenture Trustee’s agent or the Indenture Trustee’s designee to handle with due care any Certificate of Title or other document released to the Indenture Trustee or the Indenture Trustee’s agent or designee pursuant to Section 2.4.
SECTION 2.7 Effective Period and Termination. The Servicer’s appointment as custodian will become effective as of the Cut-Off Date and will continue in full force and effect until terminated pursuant to this Section 2.7. If the Bank resigns as Servicer in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement or if all of the rights and obligations of the Servicer have been terminated under Section 6.1, the appointment of the Servicer as custodian hereunder may be terminated by the Indenture Trustee, or by the Noteholders evidencing not less than 66 2/3% of the Note Balance of the Controlling Class, in the same manner as the Indenture Trustee or such Noteholders may terminate the rights and obligations of the Servicer under Section 6.1. As soon as practicable after any termination of such appointment, the Servicer will deliver to the Indenture Trustee (or, at the direction of the Indenture Trustee, to its agent) the Receivable Files and the related accounts and records maintained by the Servicer at such place or places as the Indenture Trustee may reasonably designate. provided, however, that with respect to authoritative copies of the Receivables constituting electronic chattel paper, the Servicer, in its sole discretion, shall either (i) continue to hold any such authoritative copies on behalf of the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee or the Indenture Trustee’s agent or (ii) deliver copies of such authoritative copies and destroy the authoritative copies maintained by the Servicer prior to its termination such that such copy delivered to the Indenture Trustee or the Indenture Trustee’s agent becomes the authoritative copy of the Receivable constituting electronic chattel paper.
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Notwithstanding the termination of the Servicer as custodian, the Issuer agrees that upon any such termination, the Issuer shall provide, or cause its agent to provide, access to the Receivable Files to the Servicer for the purpose of carrying out its duties and responsibilities with respect to the servicing of the Receivables hereunder.
ARTICLE III
ADMINISTRATION AND SERVICING OF
RECEIVABLES AND TRUST PROPERTY
SECTION 3.1 Duties of Servicer.
(a) The Servicer is hereby appointed by the Issuer and authorized to act as agent for the Issuer and in such capacity shall manage, service, administer and make collections on the Receivables in accordance with its Customary Servicing Practices, using the degree of skill and attention that the Servicer exercises with respect to all comparable motor vehicle receivables that it services for itself or others. The Servicer’s duties will include collection and posting of all payments, responding to inquiries of Obligors on such Receivables, investigating delinquencies, sending invoices or payment coupons to Obligors, reporting any required tax information to Obligors, accounting for collections and furnishing monthly and annual statements to the Indenture Trustee with respect to distributions. The Servicer is not required under the Transaction Documents to make any disbursements via wire transfer or otherwise on behalf of an Obligor. There are no requirements under the Receivables or the Transaction Documents for funds to be, and funds shall not be, held in trust for an Obligor. No payments or disbursements shall be made by the Servicer on behalf of the Obligor. The Servicer hereby accepts such appointment and authorization and agrees to perform the duties of Servicer with respect to the Receivables set forth herein.
(b) The Servicer will follow its Customary Servicing Practices and will have full power and authority to do any and all things in connection with such managing, servicing, administration and collection that it may deem necessary or desirable. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Servicer is hereby authorized and empowered to execute and deliver, on behalf of itself, the Issuer, the Owner Trustee, the Indenture Trustee, the Noteholders, the Certificateholder, or any of them, any and all instruments of satisfaction or cancellation, or partial or full release or discharge, and all other comparable instruments, with respect to such Receivables or to the Financed Vehicles securing such Receivables. The Servicer is hereby authorized to commence, in its own name or in the name of the Issuer, a legal Proceeding to enforce a Receivable or to commence or participate in any other legal Proceeding (including a bankruptcy Proceeding) relating to or involving a Receivable, an Obligor or a Financed Vehicle. If the Servicer commences a legal Proceeding to enforce a Receivable, the Issuer will thereupon be deemed to have automatically assigned such Receivable to the Servicer solely for purposes of commencing or participating in any such Proceeding as a party or claimant, and the Servicer is authorized and empowered by the Issuer to execute and deliver in the Servicer’s name any notices, demands, claims, complaints, responses, affidavits or other documents or instruments in connection with any such Proceeding. If in any enforcement suit or legal Proceeding it is held that the Servicer may not enforce a Receivable on the ground that it is not a real party in interest or a holder entitled to enforce the Receivable, the Issuer will, at the Servicer’s expense and
4 | Servicing Agreement |
direction, take steps to enforce the Receivable, including bringing suit in its name or the name of the Indenture Trustee. The Issuer will furnish the Servicer with any powers of attorney and other documents reasonably necessary or appropriate to enable the Servicer to carry out its servicing and administrative duties hereunder. The Servicer, at its expense, will obtain on behalf of the Issuer all licenses, if any, reasonably requested by the Depositor to be held by the Issuer in connection with ownership of the Receivables, and will make all filings and pay all fees as may be required in connection therewith during the term hereof.
(c) The Servicer hereby agrees that upon its resignation and the appointment of a successor Servicer hereunder, the Servicer will terminate its activities as Servicer hereunder in accordance with Section 6.1, and, in any case, in a manner which the Indenture Trustee reasonably determines will facilitate the transition of the performance of such activities to such successor Servicer, and the Servicer shall cooperate with and assist such successor Servicer.
(d) The Servicer shall not be required to maintain a fidelity bond or errors and omissions policy.
SECTION 3.2 Collection of Receivable Payments.
(a) The Servicer will make reasonable efforts to collect all payments called for under the terms and provisions of the Receivables as and when the same become due in accordance with its Customary Servicing Practices. Subject to Section 3.5, the Servicer may grant extensions, rebates, deferrals, amendments, modifications or adjustments with respect to any Receivable in accordance with its Customary Servicing Practices; provided, however, that if the Servicer (i) extends the date for final payment by the Obligor of any Receivable beyond the last day of the Collection Period preceding the latest Final Scheduled Payment Date of any Notes issued under the Indenture or (ii) reduces the Contract Rate or Outstanding Principal Balance with respect to any Receivable other than as required by (x) applicable law or (y) any consent order or other agreement with any regulator (including, without limitation, by the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, the Servicer’s Customary Servicing Practices with respect to Obligors that are active military personnel or court order), it will promptly purchase such Receivable in the manner provided in Section 3.6 if such change in the Receivable would materially and adversely affect the interests of the Issuer or the Noteholders in such Receivable. In the event that at the end of the scheduled term of any Receivable, the outstanding principal amount thereof is such that the final payment to be made by the related Obligor is larger than the regularly scheduled payment of principal and interest made by such Obligor, the Servicer may permit such Obligor to pay such remaining principal amount in more than one payment of principal and interest.
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(b) The Servicer may in its discretion waive any late payment charge or any other fees that may be collected in the ordinary course of servicing a Receivable. Subject to the proviso of the second sentence of Section 3.2(a), the Servicer and its Affiliates may engage in any marketing practice or promotion or any sale of any products, goods or services to Obligors with respect to the Receivables so long as such practices, promotions or sales are offered to obligors of comparable motor vehicle receivables serviced by the Servicer for itself and others, whether or not such practices, promotions or sales might result in a decrease in the aggregate amount of payments on the Receivables, prepayments or faster or slower timing of the payment of the Receivables.
(c) The Servicer shall not be required to make any advances of funds or guarantees regarding collections, cash flows or distributions. Payments on the Receivables, including payoffs, made in accordance with the related documentation for such Receivables, shall be posted to the Servicer’s Obligor records in accordance with the Servicer’s Customary Servicing Practices. Such payments shall be allocated to principal, interest or other items in accordance with the related documentation for such Receivables.
(d) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Servicer may refinance any Receivable and deposit the full Outstanding Principal Balance of such Receivable into the Collection Account. The receivable created by such refinancing shall not be property of the Issuer. The Servicer and its Affiliates may also sell insurance or debt cancellation products, including products which result in the cancellation of some or all of the amount of a Receivable upon the death or disability of the Obligor or any casualty with respect to the Financed Vehicle.
(e) Records documenting collection efforts shall be maintained during the period a Receivable is delinquent in accordance with the Servicer’s Customary Servicing Practices. Such records shall be maintained on at least a periodic basis that is not less frequent than the Servicer’s Customary Servicing Practices, and describe the entity’s activities in monitoring delinquent pool assets including, for example, phone calls, letters and payment rescheduling plans in cases where delinquency is deemed temporary (e.g., illness or unemployment) in accordance with the Servicer’s Customary Servicing Practices.
SECTION 3.3 Realization Upon Receivables. On behalf of the Issuer, the Servicer will use commercially reasonable efforts, consistent with its Customary Servicing Practices, to repossess or otherwise convert the ownership of the Financed Vehicle securing any Receivable generally after 90 days of delinquency. The Servicer may also repossess or otherwise take possession of a Financed Vehicle (i) earlier if (A) the Servicer determines that eventual payment in full of the amount of the Financed Vehicle is unlikely, (B) the Financed Vehicle is in danger of being damaged, abandoned, destroyed or otherwise made unavailable for repossession, (C) the Obligor voluntarily surrenders the Financed Vehicle, or (D) the Financed Vehicle is seized by federal, state or local law enforcement and released to the Servicer as lienholder or (ii) later if (A) the Servicer is unable to locate the Financed Vehicle or (B) the Obligor is the subject of a Bankruptcy Proceeding. The Servicer will follow such Customary Servicing Practices as it deems necessary or advisable, which may include reasonable efforts to realize upon any recourse to any Dealer and selling the Financed Vehicle at public or private sale or consigning such Financed Vehicle to a Dealer for resale. The foregoing shall be subject to the provision that, in any case in which the Financed Vehicle has suffered damage, the Servicer shall not be required
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to expend funds in connection with the repair or the repossession of such Financed Vehicle unless it shall determine in its sole discretion that such repair and/or repossession will increase the Liquidation Proceeds by an amount greater than the amount of such expenses. The Servicer, in its sole discretion, may in accordance with its Customary Servicing Practices purchase from the Issuer any Receivable’s deficiency balance (i.e., the remaining balance of a Receivable after deduction of all Liquidation Proceeds with respect to such Receivable) for a purchase price equal to the fair value of the deficiency balance as determined by the Servicer at the time of purchase by the Servicer, which purchase price shall not be adjusted by the proceeds the Servicer ultimately realizes from its disposition or collection efforts related to the deficiency amount. Net proceeds of any such sale allocable to the Receivable will constitute Liquidation Proceeds, and the sole right of the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee with respect to any such sold Receivables will be to receive such Liquidation Proceeds. Upon such sale, the Servicer will xxxx its computer records indicating that any such receivable sold is no longer a Receivable. The Servicer is authorized to take any and all actions necessary or appropriate on behalf of the Issuer to evidence the sale of the Financed Vehicle at public or private sale or the sale of the Receivable to the Servicer pursuant to the provisions of this paragraph free from any Lien or other interest of the Issuer or the Indenture Trustee.
SECTION 3.4 Maintenance of Security Interests in Financed Vehicles. The Servicer will, in accordance with its Customary Servicing Practices, take such steps as are necessary to maintain perfection of the security interest created by each Receivable in the related Financed Vehicle. The provisions set forth in this Section 3.4 to apply its Customary Servicing Practices are the sole requirements under the Transaction Documents with respect to the maintenance of collateral or security on the Receivables. It is understood that the Financed Vehicles are the collateral and security for the Receivables, but that the Certificate of Title with respect to a Financed Vehicle does not constitute collateral and merely evidences such security interest. The Issuer hereby authorizes the Servicer to take such steps as are necessary to re-perfect such security interest on behalf of the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee in the event of the relocation of a Financed Vehicle or for any other reason. In the event that the assignment of a Receivable to the Issuer and by the Issuer to the Indenture Trustee pursuant to the Indenture is insufficient without a notation on the related Financed Vehicle’s certificate of title, or without fulfilling any additional administrative requirements under the laws of the state in which the Financed Vehicle is located, to grant to the Indenture Trustee a perfected security interest in the related Financed Vehicle, the Servicer hereby agrees that the listing of JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association as the secured party on the certificate of title is deemed to be in its capacity as agent of the Indenture Trustee and the Servicer further agrees to hold such certificate of title as the Indenture Trustee’s agent and custodian; provided, however, that the Servicer shall not, nor shall the Owner Trustee, the Indenture Trustee or Noteholders have the right to require that the Servicer, make any such notation on the related Financed Vehicles’ certificate of title or fulfill any such additional administrative requirement of the laws of the state in which a Financed Vehicle is located.
SECTION 3.5 Covenants of Servicer. Unless required by law or court order, the Servicer will not intentionally release the Financed Vehicle securing each such Receivable from the security interest granted by such Receivable in whole or in part except (a) in the event of payment in full by or on behalf of the Obligor thereunder or payment in full less a deficiency which the Servicer would not attempt to collect in accordance with its Customary Servicing Practices, (b) in connection with a substitution of such Financed Vehicle in whole by the manufacturer, Dealer as a result of mechanical defects, (c) in connection with repossession or (d) as may be required by an insurer in order to receive proceeds from any Insurance Policy covering such Financed Vehicle.
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SECTION 3.6 Purchase of Receivables Upon Breach. Upon discovery by any party hereto of a breach of any of the covenants set forth in Section 3.2, 3.3, 3.4 or 3.5 with respect to any Receivable which materially and adversely affects the interests of the Issuer or the Noteholders in such Receivable, the party discovering such breach shall give prompt written notice thereof to the other parties hereto; provided, that delivery of the Servicer’s Certificate shall be deemed to constitute prompt notice by the Servicer and the Issuer of such breach; provided, further, that the failure to give such notice shall not affect any obligation of the Servicer hereunder. The Indenture Trustee need not investigate the facts stated in a Servicer’s Certificate delivered in accordance with the foregoing sentence. If the breach materially and adversely affects the interests of the Issuer or the Noteholders in such Receivable, then the Servicer shall either (a) correct or cure such breach or (b) purchase such Receivable from the Issuer, in either case on or before the Payment Date following the end of the Collection Period which includes the 60th day (or, if the Servicer elects, an earlier date) after the date that the Servicer became aware or was notified of such breach. Any such breach or failure will be deemed not to have a material and adverse effect if such breach or failure does not affect the ability of the Issuer to receive and retain timely payment in full on such Receivable. Any such purchase by the Servicer shall be at a price equal to the Repurchase Price. In consideration for such repurchase, the Servicer shall make (or shall cause to be made) a payment to the Issuer equal to the Repurchase Price by depositing such amount into the Collection Account prior to 11:00 a.m., New York City time on such date of purchase (or, if the Servicer elects, an earlier date). Upon payment of such Repurchase Price by the Servicer, the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee shall release and shall execute and deliver such instruments of release, transfer or assignment, in each case without recourse or representation, as shall be reasonably necessary to vest in the Servicer or its designee any Receivable and related Transferred Assets purchased pursuant hereto. It is understood and agreed that the obligation of the Servicer to purchase any Receivable as described above shall constitute the sole remedy respecting such breach available to the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee.
SECTION 3.7 Servicing Fee. On each Payment Date, the Issuer shall pay to the Servicer the Servicing Fee in accordance with Section 4.4 for the immediately preceding Collection Period as compensation for its services. In addition, the Servicer will be entitled to retain all Supplemental Servicing Fees. The Servicer also will be entitled to receive investment earnings (net of investment losses and expenses) on funds deposited in the Collection Account, the Reserve Account and the Principal Distribution Account during each Collection Period.
SECTION 3.8 Servicer’s Certificate. On or before the Determination Date preceding each Payment Date, the Servicer shall deliver to the Indenture Trustee and the Paying Agent, a Servicer’s Certificate containing all information necessary to make the payments, transfers and distributions pursuant to Sections 4.3 and 4.4 on such Payment Date (and, if applicable, Section 5.4 of the Indenture), together with the written statements to be furnished by the Indenture Trustee to the Noteholders pursuant to Section 4.6 hereof and Section 6.6 of the Indenture. At the sole option of the Servicer, each Servicer’s Certificate may be delivered in electronic or hard copy format.
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SECTION 3.9 Annual Officer’s Certificate; Notice of Servicer Replacement Event. (a) So long as the Depositor is filing any reports with respect to the Issuer under the Exchange Act, the Servicer will deliver to the Issuer, with a copy to the Indenture Trustee, on or before March 30 of each calendar year, beginning on March 30, [ ], an Officer’s Certificate (with appropriate insertions) providing such information as is required under Item 1123 of Regulation AB.
(b) The Servicer will deliver to the Issuer, with a copy to the Indenture Trustee, promptly after having obtained knowledge thereof, a written notice in an Officer’s Certificate of any event which with the giving of notice or lapse of time, or both, would become a Servicer Replacement Event. Except to the extent set forth in this Section 3.9(b) and Sections 6.2 and 8.19 of this Agreement and Section 3.12 of the Indenture, the Transaction Documents do not require any policies or procedures to monitor any performance or other triggers and events of default.
(c) So long as the Depositor is filing any reports with respect to the Issuer under the Exchange Act, the Servicer will deliver to the Issuer, on or before March 30 of each year, beginning on March 30, [ ], a report regarding the Servicer’s assessment of compliance with the Servicing Criteria during the immediately preceding calendar year (or since the Closing Date in the case of the first such report), including disclosure of any material instance of non-compliance identified by the Servicer, as required under paragraph (b) of Rule 13a-18 and Rule 15d-18 of the Exchange Act and Item 1122 of Regulation AB.
SECTION 3.10 Annual Registered Public Accounting Firm Attestation Report. So long as the Depositor is filing any reports with respect to the Issuer under the Exchange Act, on or before the 90th day following the end of each fiscal year, beginning with the fiscal year ending December 31, [ ], the Servicer shall cause a firm of independent registered public accountants (who may also render other services to the Servicer, the Depositor or their respective Affiliates) to furnish to the Issuer, with a copy to each of the Indenture Trustee, the Servicer and the Depositor each attestation report on assessments of compliance with the Servicing Criteria with respect to the Servicer or any Affiliate thereof during the related fiscal year (or since the Closing Date in the case of the first such report) delivered by such accountants pursuant to paragraph (c) of Rule 13a-18 or Rule 15d-18 of the Exchange Act and Item 1122 of Regulation AB. The certification required by this paragraph may be replaced by any similar certification using other procedures or attestation standards which are now or in the future in use by servicers of comparable assets, or which otherwise comply with any rule, regulation, “no action” letter or similar guidance promulgated by the Commission.
The Servicer, however, shall not be obligated to add as an addressee or reliance party with respect to any report described above any Person who does not comply with or agree to the required procedures of such firm of independent certified public accountants, including but not limited to execution of engagement letters or access letters regarding such reports.
SECTION 3.11 Servicer Expenses. The Servicer shall pay all expenses (other than expenses described in the definition of Liquidation Proceeds) incurred by it in connection with its activities hereunder, independent accountants, taxes imposed on the Servicer and expenses incurred in connection with distributions and reports to the Noteholders and the
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Certificateholder. The Servicer shall also pay all fees, expenses, and indemnities of the Indenture Trustee (as described in, and pursuant to the limitations set forth in Section 6.7 of the Indenture) and the Owner Trustee (as described in, and pursuant to the limitations set forth in, Sections 8.1 and 8.2 of the Trust Agreement). The compensation and indemnity obligations of the Servicer to the Indenture Trustee hereunder and pursuant to Section 6.7 of the Indenture shall survive the resignation or removal of the Indenture Trustee and the Servicer, the discharge of the Indenture and the termination of this Agreement.
SECTION 3.12 1934 Act Filings. The Issuer hereby authorizes the Servicer and the Depositor, or either of them, to prepare, sign, certify and file any and all reports, statements and information with respect to the Issuer and/or the Notes required to be filed pursuant to the Exchange Act, and the rules thereunder.
SECTION 3.13 Compliance with the FDIC Rule. The Servicer agrees (i) to perform the covenants set forth in Article XII of the Indenture applicable to it and (ii) to facilitate compliance with Article XII of the Indenture by the Chase Parties.
ARTICLE IV
DISTRIBUTIONS; ACCOUNTS;
STATEMENTS TO THE CERTIFICATEHOLDER
AND THE NOTEHOLDERS
SECTION 4.1 Establishment of Accounts. (a) The Servicer shall cause to be established:
(i) | For the benefit of the Noteholders, in the name of the Indenture Trustee, an Eligible Account (the “Collection Account”), bearing a designation clearly indicating that the funds deposited therein are held for the benefit of the Noteholders, which Eligible Account shall be established by and maintained with the Indenture Trustee or its designee. No checks shall be issued, printed or honored with respect to the Collection Account. |
(ii) | For the benefit of the Noteholders, in the name of the Indenture Trustee, an Eligible Account (the “Principal Distribution Account”), bearing a designation clearly indicating that the funds deposited therein are held for the benefit of the Noteholders, which Eligible Account shall be established by and maintained with the Indenture Trustee or its designee and which may be a sub-account of the Collection Account. No checks shall be issued, printed or honored with respect to the Principal Distribution Account. |
(iii) | For the benefit of the Noteholders, in the name of the Indenture Trustee, an Eligible Account (the “Reserve Account”), bearing a designation clearly indicating that the funds deposited therein are held for the benefit of the Noteholders, which Eligible Account shall be established by and maintained with the Indenture Trustee or its designee. No checks shall be issued, printed or honored with respect to the Reserve Account. |
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(b) If the Depositor or an Affiliate of the Depositor is no longer the sole Certificateholder or if the Certificateholder so requests, the Servicer shall cause to be established, for the benefit of the Certificateholder, in the name of the Issuer, a non-interest bearing Eligible Account (the “Certificate Distribution Account”) bearing a designation clearly indicating that the funds deposited therein are held for the benefit of the Certificateholder, which Eligible Account shall be established by and maintained with the Certificate Paying Agent or its designee. No checks shall be issued, printed or honored with respect to the Certificate Distribution Account.
(c) Funds on deposit in the Collection Account, the Reserve Account and the Principal Distribution Account (collectively, the “Trust Accounts”) shall be invested by the Indenture Trustee in Permitted Investments selected in writing by the Servicer and of which the Servicer provides notification (pursuant to standing instructions or otherwise); provided, that it is understood and agreed that neither the Servicer, the Indenture Trustee nor the Issuer shall be liable for any loss arising from such investment in Permitted Investments. All such Permitted Investments shall be held by or on behalf of the Indenture Trustee as secured party for the benefit of the Noteholders; provided, that on each Payment Date all interest and other investment income (net of losses and investment expenses) on funds on deposit in the Trust Accounts shall be distributed to the Servicer and shall not be available to pay the distributions provided for in Section 4.4. All investments of funds on deposit in the Trust Accounts shall mature so that such funds will be available on the next Payment Date. No Permitted Investment shall be sold or otherwise disposed of prior to its scheduled maturity unless a default occurs with respect to such Permitted Investment and the Servicer directs the Indenture Trustee in writing to dispose of such Permitted Investment. [For the avoidance of doubt, with respect to each Payment Date, any interest and other income earned on funds in deposit in the Trust Accounts from the Business Day prior to such Payment Date through such Payment Date shall be paid to the Servicer.]
(d) The Indenture Trustee shall possess all right, title and interest in all funds on deposit from time to time in the Trust Accounts and in all proceeds thereof and all such funds, investments and proceeds shall be part of the Trust Estate. Except as otherwise provided herein, the Trust Accounts shall be under the sole dominion and control of the Indenture Trustee for the benefit of the Noteholders. If, at any time, any Trust Account ceases to be an Eligible Account, the Servicer shall promptly notify the Indenture Trustee in writing (unless such Trust Account is an account with the Indenture Trustee) and within 60 Business Days (or such longer period if the Rating Agency Condition is satisfied with respect to such longer period) after becoming aware of the fact, establish a new Trust Account as an Eligible Account and shall direct the Indenture Trustee to transfer any cash and/or any investments to such new Trust Account.
(e) With respect to the Trust Account Property, the parties hereto agree that:
(i) | any Trust Account Property that consists of uninvested funds shall be held solely in Eligible Accounts and, except as otherwise provided herein, each such Eligible Account shall be subject to the exclusive custody and control of the Indenture Trustee, and, except as otherwise provided in the Transaction Documents, the Indenture Trustee or its designee shall have sole signature authority with respect thereto; |
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(ii) | any Trust Account Property that constitutes Physical Property shall be delivered to the Indenture Trustee or its designee, in accordance with paragraph (a) of the definition of “Delivery” and shall be held, pending maturity or disposition, solely by the Indenture Trustee or any such designee; |
(iii) | any Trust Account Property that is an “uncertificated security” under Article 8 of the UCC and that is not governed by clause (iv) below shall be delivered to the Indenture Trustee or its designee in accordance with paragraph (c) of the definition of “Delivery” and shall be maintained by the Indenture Trustee or such designee, pending maturity or disposition, through continued registration of the Indenture Trustee’s (or its designee’s) ownership of such security on the books of the issuer thereof; and |
(iv) | any Trust Account Property that is an uncertificated security that is a “book-entry security” (as such term is defined in Federal Reserve Bank Operating Circular No. 7) held in a securities account at a Federal Reserve Bank and eligible for transfer through the Fedwire® Securities Service operated by the Federal Reserve System pursuant to Federal book-entry regulations shall be delivered in accordance with paragraph (b) of the definition of “Delivery” and shall be maintained by the Indenture Trustee or its designee or a securities intermediary (as such term is defined in Section 8-102(a)(14) of the UCC) acting solely for the Indenture Trustee or such designee, pending maturity or disposition, through continued book-entry registration of such Trust Account Property as described in such paragraph. |
(f) Except for the Collection Account, the Reserve Account; the Principal Distribution Account and the Certificate Distribution Account, there are no accounts required to be maintained under the Transaction Documents.
SECTION 4.2 Remittances. The Servicer shall deposit an amount equal to all Collections into the Collection Account within two Business Days after identification; [provided, however, that if the Monthly Remittance Condition below is satisfied, then the Servicer shall not be required to deposit into the Collection Account an amount equal to the Collections received during any Collection Period until 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the following Payment Date.] [The “Monthly Remittance Condition” shall be deemed to be satisfied if (i) the Bank or one of its Affiliates is the Servicer, (ii) no Servicer Replacement Event has occurred and is continuing and (iii) the Servicer has a short-term debt rating of at least [ ].] Pending deposit into the Collection Account, Collections may be commingled and used by the Servicer at its own risk and are not required to be segregated from its own funds.
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SECTION 4.3 Additional Deposits and Payments. (a) On each repurchase date, the Servicer will deposit into the Collection Account the aggregate Repurchase Price with respect to Repurchased Receivables purchased by the Servicer and on or prior to any Optional Purchase Date, the Servicer will deposit into the Collection Account all amounts, if any, to be paid under Section 7.1 in connection with the Optional Purchase. To the extent not already deposited to the Collection Account, all such deposits must be made, in immediately available funds no later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Payment Date related to the applicable Collection Period.
(b) The Indenture Trustee will, on each Payment Date, withdraw from the Reserve Account the Reserve Account Excess Amount, if any, for such Payment Date and deposit such amounts in the Collection Account in accordance with the Servicer’s Certificate.
(c) The Indenture Trustee will, on each Payment Date, withdraw from the Reserve Account the Reserve Account Draw Amount and deposit such amount in the Collection Account in accordance with the Servicer’s Certificate.
(d) On the Closing Date the Depositor will cause to be deposited from proceeds of the sale of the Notes, into the Reserve Account an amount equal to the Initial Reserve Account Deposit Amount.
SECTION 4.4 Distributions.
(a) Prior to the acceleration of the Notes pursuant to Section 5.2 of the Indenture, on each Payment Date, the Indenture Trustee (solely based on information contained in, and as directed by, the Servicer’s Certificate delivered on or before the related Determination Date pursuant to Section 3.8) shall make the following deposits and distributions, to the extent of Available Funds and the Reserve Account Draw Amount, on deposit in the Collection Account for such Payment Date, in the following order of priority:
(i) | first, to the Servicer, the Servicing Fee for the prior Collection Period and all prior unpaid Servicing Fees with respect to prior Collection Periods; |
(ii) | second, to the Administrator, any fees owed to the Administrator for the prior Collection Period under the Administration Agreement and all prior unpaid fees owed to the Administrator with respect to prior Collection Periods; |
(iii) | third, to the Class A Noteholders, the Accrued Class A Note Interest for the related Interest Period; provided, that if there are not sufficient funds available to pay the entire amount of the Accrued Class A Note Interest, the amounts available will be applied to the payment of such interest on the Class A Notes on a pro rata basis; |
(iv) | fourth, to the Principal Distribution Account for distribution to the Noteholders pursuant to Section 8.2(c) of the Indenture, the First Allocation of Principal, if any; |
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(v) | fifth, to the Class B Noteholders, the Accrued Class B Note Interest for the related Interest Period; |
(vi) | sixth, to the Principal Distribution Account for distribution to the Noteholders in accordance with Section 8.2(c) of the Indenture, the Second Allocation of Principal, if any; |
(vii) | seventh, to the Reserve Account, any additional amounts required to increase the amount in the Reserve Account up to the Specified Reserve Account Balance; |
(viii) | eighth, to the Principal Distribution Account for distribution to the Noteholders in accordance with Section 8.2(c) of the Indenture, the Regular Allocation of Principal; and |
(ix) | ninth, to or at the direction of the Certificateholder any funds remaining; provided, that if a Certificate Distribution Account has been established pursuant to Section 4.1(b), any funds remaining shall instead be deposited into the Certificate Distribution Account for distribution to the Certificateholder. |
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 4.4, following the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default which has resulted in an acceleration of the Notes, the Indenture Trustee shall apply all amounts on deposit in the Collection Account pursuant to Section 5.4(b) of the Indenture.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the Bank were to become the subject of an insolvency proceeding and the FDIC as receiver or conservator for the Bank pays damages as contemplated by paragraph (d)(4)(ii) of the FDIC Rule, then the actions and distributions described in Section 12.5 of the Indenture shall be effected.
(c) After the payment in full of the Notes and all other amounts payable under Section 4.4(a), all Collections shall be paid to or in accordance with the instructions provided from time to time by the Certificateholder.
SECTION 4.5 [Net Deposits. If the Monthly Remittance Condition is satisfied, the Servicer shall be permitted to deposit into the Collection Account only the net amount distributable to Persons other than the Servicer and its Affiliates on the Payment Date. The Servicer shall, however, account as if all of the deposits and distributions described herein were made individually.]
SECTION 4.6 Statements to Certificateholder and Noteholders. On or before each Determination Date, the Servicer shall deliver to the Indenture Trustee and the Paying Agent (with a copy to the Issuer), and the Indenture Trustee shall forward (or make available on its website, as described below) to each Noteholder of record as of the most recent Record Date, a statement setting forth for the Collection Period and Payment Date relating to such Determination Date the following information (to the extent applicable):
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(a) the aggregate amount being paid on such Payment Date in respect of interest on and principal of each Class of Notes;
(b) the Class A-1 Note Balance, the Class A-2 Note Balance, the Class A-3 Note Balance, the Class A-4 Note Balance and the Class B Note Balance in each case after giving effect to payments on such Payment Date;
(c) (i) the amount on deposit in the Reserve Account as of the beginning and end of the related Collection Period, (ii) the Specified Reserve Account Balance for such Payment Date, (iii) the amount deposited in the Reserve Account in respect of such Payment Date, if any, (iv) the Reserve Account Draw Amount and the Reserve Account Excess Amount, if any, to be withdrawn from the Reserve Account on such Payment Date, (v) the balance on deposit in the Reserve Account on such Payment Date after giving effect to withdrawals therefrom and deposits thereto in respect of such Payment Date and (vi) the change in such balance from the immediately preceding Payment Date;
(d) the Target Overcollateralization Amount for such Payment Date, and the actual amount of overcollateralization for such Payment Date;
(e) the First Allocation of Principal, the Second Allocation of Principal and the Regular Allocation of Principal for such Payment Date;
(f) the Net Pool Balance and the Principal Factor as of the close of business on the last day of the preceding Collection Period;
(g) the amount of the Servicing Fee to be paid to the Servicer with respect to the related Collection Period and the amount of any unpaid Servicing Fees;
(h) the amount of the Administration Fee to be paid to the Administrator with respect to the related Collection Period and the amount of any unpaid Administration Fees;
(i) the amount of the Class A Noteholders’ Interest Carryover Shortfall and the Class B Noteholders’ Interest Carryover Shortfall, if any, on such Payment Date and the change in such amounts from the preceding Payment Date;
(j) the aggregate Repurchase Price with respect to Repurchased Receivables with respect to the related Collection Period, if any; and
(k) the amount of Collections for the related Collection Period.
Each amount set forth pursuant to paragraph (a) or (g) above relating to the Notes shall be expressed as a dollar amount per $1,000 of the Initial Note Balance of the Notes (or Class thereof).
No disbursements shall be made directly by the Servicer to a Noteholder, and the Servicer shall not be required to maintain any investor record relating to the posting of disbursements or otherwise.
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The Indenture Trustee shall make available via the Indenture Trustee’s internet website all reports or notices required to be provided by the Indenture Trustee under this Section 4.6. Any information that is disseminated in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4.6 shall not be required to be disseminated in any other form or manner. The Indenture Trustee will make no representations or warranties as to the accuracy or completeness of such documents and will assume no responsibility therefor.
The Indenture Trustee’s internet website shall be initially located at [ ] or at such other address as shall be specified by the Indenture Trustee from time to time in writing to the Noteholders, the Servicer, the Issuer or any Paying Agent. In connection with providing access to the Indenture Trustee’s internet website, the Indenture Trustee may require registration and the acceptance of a disclaimer. The Indenture Trustee shall not be liable for the dissemination of information in accordance with this Agreement. The Indenture Trustee shall notify the Noteholders, the Servicer and the Administrator in writing of any changes in the address or means of access to the Internet website where the reports are accessible.
SECTION 4.7 No Duty to Confirm. The Indenture Trustee shall have no duty or obligation to verify or confirm the accuracy of any of the information or numbers set forth in the Servicer’s Certificate delivered by the Servicer to the Indenture Trustee, and the Indenture Trustee shall be fully protected in relying upon such Servicer’s Certificate.
ARTICLE V
THE SERVICER
SECTION 5.1 Representations of Servicer. The Servicer makes the following representations and warranties as of the Closing Date on which the Issuer will be deemed to have relied in acquiring the Transferred Assets. The representations and warranties speak as of the execution and delivery of this Agreement and will survive the conveyance of the Transferred Assets to the Issuer and the pledge thereof by the Issuer to the Indenture Trustee pursuant to the Indenture:
(a) Existence and Power. The Servicer is a national banking association validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the United States and has, in all material respects, all power and authority to carry on its business as it is now conducted. The Servicer has obtained all necessary licenses and approvals in each jurisdiction where the failure to do so would materially and adversely affect the ability of the Servicer to perform its obligations under the Transaction Documents or affect the enforceability or collectibility of the Receivables or any other part of the Transferred Assets.
(b) Authorization and No Contravention. The execution, delivery and performance by the Servicer of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party (i) have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of the Servicer and (ii) do not contravene or constitute a default under (A) any applicable law, rule or regulation, (B) its organizational documents or (C) any material agreement, contract, order or other instrument to which it is a party or its property is subject (other than violations which do not affect the legality, validity or enforceability of any of such agreements and which, individually or in the aggregate, would not materially and adversely affect the transactions contemplated by, or the Servicer’s ability to perform its obligations under, the Transaction Documents).
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(c) No Consent Required. No approval or authorization by, or filing with, any Governmental Authority is required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by the Servicer of any Transaction Document other than (i) UCC filings, (ii) approvals and authorizations that have previously been obtained and filings that have previously been made and (iii) approvals, authorizations or filings which, if not obtained or made, would not have a material adverse effect on the enforceability or collectibility of the Receivables or would not materially and adversely affect the ability of the Servicer to perform its obligations under the Transaction Documents.
(d) Binding Effect. Each Transaction Document to which the Servicer is a party constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Servicer enforceable against the Servicer in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, receivership, conservatorship or other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and, if applicable, the rights of creditors of national banking associations from time to time in effect or by general principles of equity.
(e) No Proceedings. There are no actions, suits or Proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Servicer, threatened against the Servicer before or by any Governmental Authority that (i) assert the invalidity or unenforceability of this Agreement or any of the other Transaction Documents, (ii) seek to prevent the issuance of the Notes or the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any of the other Transaction Documents, (iii) seek any determination or ruling that would materially and adversely affect the performance by the Servicer of its obligations under this Agreement or any of the other Transaction Documents, or (iv) relate to the Servicer that would materially and adversely affect the federal or Applicable Tax State income, excise, franchise or similar tax attributes of the Notes.
SECTION 5.2 Indemnities of Servicer. The Servicer will be liable in accordance herewith only to the extent of the obligations specifically undertaken by the Servicer under this Agreement, and hereby agrees to the following:
(a) The Servicer will defend, indemnify and hold harmless the Issuer, the Owner Trustee, the Indenture Trustee, the Noteholders, the Certificateholder and the Depositor from and against any and all costs, expenses, losses, damages, claims and liabilities, arising out of or resulting from the use, ownership or operation by the Servicer or any Affiliate thereof of a Financed Vehicle.
(b) The Servicer will indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Issuer, the Owner Trustee and the Indenture Trustee from and against any taxes that may at any time be asserted against any such Person with respect to the transactions contemplated herein or in the other Transaction Documents, if any, including, without limitation, any sales, gross receipts, general corporation, tangible personal property, privilege, or license taxes but, in the case of the Issuer, not including any taxes asserted with respect to, and as of the date of, the conveyance of the Receivables to the Issuer or the issuance and original sales of the Notes, or asserted with respect
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to ownership of the Receivables, or federal or other Applicable Tax State income taxes arising out of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents) and costs and expenses in defending against the same. For the avoidance of doubt, the Servicer will not indemnify for any costs, expenses, losses, claims, damages or liabilities due to the credit risk of the Obligor and for which reimbursement would constitute recourse for uncollectible Receivables.
(c) The Servicer will indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Issuer, the Owner Trustee, the Indenture Trustee, the Noteholders, the Certificateholder and the Depositor from and against any and all costs, expenses, losses, claims, damages, and liabilities to the extent that such cost, expense, loss, claim, damage, or liability arose out of, or was imposed upon any such Person through, the negligence, willful misfeasance, or bad faith (other than errors of judgment) of the Servicer in the performance of its duties under this Agreement or any other Transaction Document to which it is a party, or by reason of its failure to perform its obligations or of reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement or any other Transaction Document to which it is a party; provided, however, that the Servicer will not indemnify for any costs, expenses, losses, claims, damages or liabilities arising from its breach of any covenant for which the repurchase of the affected Receivables is specified as the sole remedy pursuant to Section 3.6.
(d) The Servicer will compensate and indemnify the Owner Trustee to the extent and subject to the conditions set forth in Sections 8.1 and 8.2 of the Trust Agreement. The Servicer will compensate and indemnify the Indenture Trustee to the extent and subject to the conditions set forth in Section 6.7 of the Indenture, except to the extent that any cost, expense, loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is incurred in connection with the performance by the Indenture Trustee of the duties of a successor Servicer hereunder.
(e) Indemnification under this Section 5.2 by the Bank (or any successor thereto pursuant to Section 6.1) as Servicer, with respect to the period such Person was the Servicer, will survive the termination of such Person as Servicer or a resignation by such Person as Servicer as well as the termination of this Agreement and the Trust Agreement or the resignation or removal of the Owner Trustee or the Indenture Trustee and will include reasonable fees and expenses of counsel and expenses of litigation. If the Servicer has made any indemnity payments pursuant to this Section 5.2 and the Person to or on behalf of whom such payments are made thereafter collects any of such amounts from others, such Person will promptly repay such amounts to the Servicer, without interest.
The provisions of this Section 5.2 shall survive termination of this Agreement and satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture.
SECTION 5.3 Merger or Consolidation of, or Assumption of the Obligations of, Servicer. Any Person (i) into which the Servicer may be merged or consolidated, (ii) resulting from any merger, conversion, or consolidation to which the Servicer is a party, (iii) succeeding to the business of the Servicer or (iv) 50% or more of the equity of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by [ ], which Person in any of the foregoing cases executes an agreement of assumption to perform every obligation of the Servicer under this Agreement, will be the successor to the Servicer under this Agreement without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties to this Agreement. The Servicer shall provide prior notice of the effective date of any merger, conversion, consolidation or succession pursuant to this Section 5.3 to the Rating Agencies.
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SECTION 5.4 Limitation on Liability of Servicer and Others. (a) Neither the Servicer nor any of the directors or officers or employees or agents of the Servicer will be under any liability to the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee, the Owner Trustee, the Noteholders or the Certificateholders, except as provided under this Agreement, for any action taken or for refraining from the taking of any action pursuant to this Agreement or for errors in judgment; provided, however, that this provision will not protect the Servicer or any such Person against any liability that would otherwise be imposed by reason of willful misfeasance or bad faith in the performance of duties or by reason of its failure to perform its obligations or of reckless disregard of obligations and duties under this Agreement, or by reason of negligence in the performance of its duties under this Agreement (except for errors in judgment). The Servicer and any director, officer or employee or agent of the Servicer may rely in good faith on any Opinion of Counsel or on any Officer’s Certificate of the Depositor or certificate of auditors believed to be genuine and to have been signed by the proper party in respect of any matters arising under this Agreement. The provisions of this Section 5.4(a) shall survive termination of this Agreement and satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture.
(b) Except as provided in this Agreement, the Servicer will not be under any obligation to appear in, prosecute, or defend any legal action that is not incidental to its duties to service the Receivables in accordance with this Agreement, and that in its opinion may involve it in any expense or liability; provided, however, that the Servicer may undertake any reasonable action that it may deem necessary or desirable in respect of this Agreement and the rights and duties of the parties to this Agreement and the interests of the Noteholders and the Certificateholder under this Agreement. In such event, the legal expenses and costs of such action and any liability resulting therefrom will be expenses, costs and liabilities of the Issuer, and the Servicer shall be entitled to be reimbursed therefor. Any amounts due the Servicer pursuant to this subsection shall be payable on a Payment Date in accordance with Section 4.4(a).
SECTION 5.5 Delegation of Duties. The Servicer may, at any time without notice or consent, delegate (a) any or all of its duties (including, without limitation, its duties as custodian) under the Transaction Documents to any of its Affiliates or (b) specific duties (including, without limitation, its duties as custodian) to sub-contractors who are in the business of performing such duties; provided, that no such delegation shall relieve the Servicer of its responsibility with respect to such duties and the Servicer shall remain obligated and liable to the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee for its duties hereunder as if the Servicer alone were performing such duties. For any servicing activities delegated to third parties in accordance with this Section 5.5, the Servicer shall follow such policies and procedures to monitor the performance of such third parties and compliance with such servicing activities as the Servicer follows with respect to comparable motor vehicle receivables serviced by the Servicer for its own account.
SECTION 5.6 The Bank Not to Resign as Servicer. Subject to the provisions of Sections 5.3 and 5.5, the Bank will not resign from the obligations and duties hereby imposed on it as Servicer under this Agreement except (i) upon determination that the performance of its
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duties under this Agreement is no longer permissible under applicable law or (ii) upon satisfaction of the Rating Agency Condition in the event of the appointment of a successor servicer. Notice of any such determination permitting the resignation of the Bank will be communicated to the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee at the earliest practicable time (and, if such communication is not in writing, will be confirmed in writing at the earliest practicable time) and any such determination will be evidenced by an Opinion of Counsel to such effect delivered to the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee concurrently with or promptly after such notice. No such resignation will become effective until a successor Servicer has (i) assumed the responsibilities and obligations of the Bank as Servicer and (ii) provided in writing the information reasonably requested by the Depositor to comply with its reporting obligations under the Exchange Act with respect to a replacement Servicer.
SECTION 5.7 Servicer May Own Notes. The Servicer, and any Affiliate of the Servicer, may, in its individual or any other capacity, become the owner or pledgee of Notes with the same rights as it would have if it were not the Servicer or an Affiliate thereof, except as otherwise expressly provided herein or in the other Transaction Documents. Except as set forth herein or in the other Transaction Documents, Notes so owned by or pledged to the Servicer or such Affiliate will have an equal and proportionate benefit under the provisions of this Agreement, without preference, priority or distinction as among all of the Notes.
ARTICLE VI
REPLACEMENT OF SERVICER
SECTION 6.1 Replacement of Servicer.
(a) If a Servicer Replacement Event shall have occurred and be continuing, the Indenture Trustee may or, at the direction of 66 2/3% of the Note Balance of the Controlling Class shall, by notice given to the Servicer, the Owner Trustee, the Issuer, the Administrator, the Noteholders, terminate the rights and obligations of the Servicer under this Agreement with respect to the Receivables. In the event the Servicer is terminated pursuant to this Section 6.1 or resigns as Servicer pursuant to Section 5.6 with respect to servicing the Receivables, the Indenture Trustee, acting at the direction of 66 2/3% of the Note Balance of the Controlling Class, shall appoint a successor Servicer. Upon the Servicer’s receipt of notice of termination the predecessor Servicer will continue to perform its functions as Servicer under this Agreement only until the date specified in such termination notice or, if no such date is specified in such termination notice, immediately upon receipt of such notice. If a successor Servicer has not been appointed at the time when the predecessor Servicer ceases to act as Servicer in accordance with this Section 6.1, the Indenture Trustee without further action will automatically be appointed the successor Servicer. Notwithstanding the above, the Indenture Trustee, if it is legally unable or is unwilling to so act, will appoint, or petition a court of competent jurisdiction to appoint a successor Servicer. Any successor Servicer shall be an established institution having a net worth of not less than $100,000,000 and whose regular business includes the servicing of comparable motor vehicle receivables.
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(b) Noteholders holding not less than a majority of the Note Balance of the Controlling Class may waive any Servicer Replacement Event. Upon any such waiver, such Servicer Replacement Event shall cease to exist and be deemed to have been cured and not to have occurred for every purpose of this Agreement, but no such waiver shall extend to any prior, subsequent or other Servicer Replacement Event or impair any right consequent thereto.
(c) If replaced, the Servicer agrees that it will use commercially reasonable efforts to effect the orderly and efficient transfer of the servicing of the Receivables to a successor Servicer. All reasonable costs and expenses incurred in connection with transferring the Receivable Files to the successor Servicer and all other reasonable costs and expenses incurred in connection with the transfer to the successor Servicer related to the performance by the Servicer hereunder will be paid by the predecessor Servicer upon presentation of reasonable documentation of such costs and expenses.
(d) Upon the effectiveness of the assumption by the successor Servicer of its duties pursuant to this Section 6.1, the successor Servicer shall be the successor in all respects to the Servicer in its capacity as Servicer under this Agreement with respect to the Receivables, and shall be subject to all the responsibilities, duties and liabilities relating thereto, except with respect to the obligations of the predecessor Servicer that survive its termination as Servicer, including indemnification obligations as set forth in Section 5.2(e). In such event, the Indenture Trustee and the Owner Trustee are hereby authorized and empowered to execute and deliver, on behalf of the predecessor Servicer, as attorney-in-fact or otherwise, any and all documents and other instruments, and to do or accomplish all other acts or things necessary or appropriate to effect the purposes of such termination and replacement of the Servicer, whether to complete the transfer and endorsement of the Receivables and related documents, or otherwise. No Servicer shall resign or be relieved of its duties under this Agreement, as Servicer of the Receivables, until a newly appointed Servicer for the Receivables shall have assumed the responsibilities and obligations of the resigning or terminated Servicer under this Agreement, except as set forth in Section 6.1(a).
(e) In connection with such appointment, the Indenture Trustee may make such arrangements for the compensation of the successor Servicer out of Available Funds as it and such successor Servicer will agree; provided, however, that no such compensation will be in excess of the amount paid to the predecessor Servicer under this Agreement.
SECTION 6.2 Notification to Noteholders. Upon any termination of, or appointment of a successor to, the Servicer pursuant to this Article VI, the Indenture Trustee will give prompt (but in any event, within (5) Business Days of such termination or appointment) written notice thereof to the Owner Trustee, the Issuer, the Administrator and to the Noteholders at their respective addresses of record.
ARTICLE VII
OPTIONAL PURCHASE
SECTION 7.1 Optional Purchase of Trust Estate. If the Bank is the Servicer, then the Bank shall have the right at its option (the “Optional Purchase”) to purchase the Trust Estate (other than the Reserve Account) from the Issuer on any Payment Date (such date an “Optional Purchase Date”) if the Net Pool Balance as of the last day of the related Collection Period has
21 | Servicing Agreement |
declined to 5% or less of the Net Pool Balance as of the Cut-Off Date. The aggregate purchase price for the Receivables (the “Optional Purchase Price”) shall equal the Adjusted Pool Balance as of such Optional Purchase Date, which amount shall be deposited by or at the direction of the Servicer into the Collection Account on the Optional Purchase Date. If the Servicer exercises the Optional Purchase, the Notes shall be redeemed and in each case in whole but not in part on the related Optional Purchase Date for the Redemption Price. Upon any such Optional Purchase, any funds remaining in the Reserve Account will be distributed to or at the direction of the Certificateholder.
ARTICLE VIII
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
SECTION 8.1 Amendment.
(a) Any term or provision of this Agreement may be amended by the Servicer without the consent of the Indenture Trustee, any Noteholder, the Issuer, the Owner Trustee or any other Person upon the satisfaction of one of the following conditions:
(i) | the Servicer delivers an Opinion of Counsel or Officer’s Certificate to the Indenture Trustee to the effect that such amendment will not materially and adversely affect the interests of the Noteholders; or |
(ii) | the Rating Agency Condition is satisfied with respect to such amendment and the Depositor or the Servicer notifies the Indenture Trustee in writing that the Rating Agency Condition is satisfied with respect to such amendment |
provided, that no amendment pursuant to this Section 4.6 shall be effective which materially adversely affects the rights, protections or duties of the Indenture Trustee or the Owner Trustee without the prior written consent of such materially adversely affected Person.
(b) This Agreement may also be amended from time to time by the Servicer and the Indenture Trustee, with the consent of the Noteholders evidencing not less than a majority of the Outstanding Note Balance of the Controlling Class, for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Agreement or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Noteholders; provided, that no such amendment shall reduce the interest rate or principal amount of any Note or change or delay the Final Scheduled Payment Date of any Note without the consent of each Holder of such Note. It will not be necessary to obtain the consent of the Noteholders to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment or consent, but it will be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof. The manner of obtaining such consents (and any other consents of Noteholders provided for in this Agreement) and of evidencing the authorization of the execution thereof by Noteholders will be subject to such reasonable requirements as the Indenture Trustee may prescribe, including the establishment of record dates pursuant to the Note Depository Agreement.
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(c) Promptly after the execution of any such amendment, the Servicer shall furnish a copy of such amendment to each Rating Agency and the Indenture Trustee.
SECTION 8.2 Protection of Title.
(a) The Servicer shall maintain (or shall cause its Sub-Servicer to maintain) in accordance with its Customary Servicing Practices accounts and records as to each Receivable accurately and in sufficient detail to permit (i) the reader thereof to know at any time the status of such Receivable, including payments and recoveries made and payments owing (and the nature of each) and (ii) reconciliation between payments or recoveries on (or with respect to) each Receivable and the amounts from time to time deposited in the Collection Account in respect of such Receivable.
(b) The Servicer shall maintain (or shall cause its Sub-Servicer to maintain) its computer systems so that, from time to time after the conveyance under this Agreement of the Receivables, the master computer records (including any backup archives) that refer to a Receivable shall indicate clearly the interest of the Issuer in such Receivable and that such Receivable is owned by the Issuer and has been pledged to the Indenture Trustee pursuant to the Indenture. Indication of the Issuer’s interest in a Receivable shall not be deleted from or modified on such computer systems until, and only until, the related Receivable shall have been paid in full, repurchased by the Depositor pursuant to Section 3.3 of the Sale Agreement, repurchased by the Bank pursuant to Section 3.3 of the Purchase Agreement or purchased by the Servicer in accordance with Section 3.6 hereof.
(c) If at any time the Servicer shall propose to sell, grant a security interest in or otherwise transfer any interest in motor vehicle receivables to any prospective purchaser, lender or other transferee, the Servicer shall give to such prospective purchaser, lender or other transferee computer tapes, records or printouts (including any restored from backup archives) that, if they shall refer in any manner whatsoever to any Receivable, shall indicate clearly that such Receivable has been sold and is owned by the Issuer and has been pledged to the Indenture Trustee.
(d) The Servicer, upon receipt of reasonable prior notice, shall permit the Indenture Trustee, the Owner Trustee and their respective agents at any time during normal business hours, to the extent it does not unreasonably interfere with the Servicer’s normal operations, to inspect, audit and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, make copies of and abstracts from Servicer’s (or any Sub-Servicer’s) records regarding any Receivable.
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(e) Upon request, the Servicer shall furnish to the Issuer or to the Indenture Trustee, within [thirty] Business Days, a list of all Receivables (by contract number and name of Obligor) then owned by the Issuer, together with a reconciliation of such list to each of the Servicer’s Certificates furnished before such request indicating removal of Receivables from the Issuer.
SECTION 8.3 Notices, Etc. All demands, notices and communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be delivered or mailed by registered or certified first-class United States mail, postage prepaid, hand delivery, prepaid courier service, or by facsimile, and addressed in each case as set forth on Schedule III to the Sale Agreement, or, if so provided on Schedule III to the Sale Agreement, by electronic transmission, or at such other address as shall be designated in a written notice to the other parties hereto. Any notice required or permitted to be mailed to a Noteholder shall be given by first class mail, postage prepaid, at the address of such Noteholder as shown in the Note Register. Delivery shall occur only upon receipt or reported tender of such communication by an officer of the recipient entitled to receive such notices located at the address of such recipient for notices hereunder; provided, however, that any notice to a Noteholder mailed within the time prescribed in this Agreement shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the Noteholder shall receive such notice.
SECTION 8.4 Choice of Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL, SUBSTANTIVE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REFERENCE TO THE RULES THEREOF RELATING TO CONFLICTS OF LAW, OTHER THAN SECTIONS 5-1401 AND 5-1402 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW, AND THE OBLIGATIONS, RIGHTS AND REMEDIES OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE DETERMINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUCH LAWS.
SECTION 8.5 Headings. The section headings hereof have been inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not be construed to affect the meaning, construction or effect of this Agreement.
SECTION 8.6 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all of such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.
SECTION 8.7 Waivers. No failure or delay on the part of the Servicer, the Issuer or the Indenture Trustee in exercising any power or right hereunder (to the extent such Person has any power or right hereunder) shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such power or right preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other power or right. No notice to or demand on any party hereto in any case shall entitle it to any notice or demand in similar or other circumstances. No waiver or approval by any party hereto under this Agreement shall, except as may otherwise be stated in such waiver or approval, be applicable to subsequent transactions. No waiver or approval under this Agreement shall require any similar or dissimilar waiver or approval thereafter to be granted hereunder.
SECTION 8.8 Entire Agreement. The Transaction Documents contain a final and complete integration of all prior expressions by the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter thereof and shall constitute the entire agreement among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter thereof, superseding all prior oral or written understandings. There are no unwritten agreements among the parties.
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SECTION 8.9 Severability of Provisions. If any one or more of the covenants, agreements, provisions or terms of this Agreement shall be for any reason whatsoever held invalid, then such covenants, agreements, provisions or terms shall be deemed severable from the remaining covenants, agreements, provisions or terms of this Agreement and shall in no way affect the validity or enforceability of the other provisions of this Agreement.
SECTION 8.10 Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns. This Agreement shall create and constitute the continuing obligations of the parties hereto in accordance with its terms, and shall remain in full force and effect until such time as the parties hereto shall agree.
SECTION 8.11 Cumulative Remedies. The remedies herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.
SECTION 8.12 Nonpetition Covenant. Each party hereto agrees that, prior to the date which is one year and one day after payment in full of all obligations of each Bankruptcy Remote Party in respect of all securities issued by any Bankruptcy Remote Party (i) such party shall not authorize any Bankruptcy Remote Party to commence a voluntary winding-up or other voluntary case or other Proceeding seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief with respect to such Bankruptcy Remote Party or its debts under any bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect in any jurisdiction or seeking the appointment of an administrator, a trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian or other similar official with respect to such Bankruptcy Remote Party or any substantial part of its property or to consent to any such relief or to the appointment of or taking possession by any such official in an involuntary case or other Proceeding commenced against such Bankruptcy Remote Party, or to make a general assignment for the benefit of, its creditors generally, any party hereto or any other creditor of such Bankruptcy Remote Party, and (ii) such party shall not commence or join with any other Person in commencing any Proceeding against such Bankruptcy Remote Party under any bankruptcy, reorganization, liquidation or insolvency law or statute now or hereafter in effect in any jurisdiction. This Section 8.12 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
SECTION 8.13 Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally:
(a) submits for itself and its property in any legal action or Proceeding relating to this Agreement or any documents executed and delivered in connection herewith, or for recognition and enforcement of any judgment in respect thereof, to the nonexclusive general jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York, the courts of the United States of America for the Southern District of New York and appellate courts from any thereof;
(b) consents that any such action or Proceeding may be brought in such courts and waives any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the venue of such action or Proceeding in any such court or that such action or Proceeding was brought in an inconvenient court and agrees not to plead or claim the same;
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(c) agrees that service of process in any such action or Proceeding may be effected by mailing a copy thereof by registered or certified mail (or any substantially similar form of mail), postage prepaid, to such Person at its address determined in accordance with Section 8.3;
(d) agrees that nothing herein shall affect the right to effect service of process in any other manner permitted by law or shall limit the right to xxx in any other jurisdiction; and
(e) to the extent permitted by applicable law, each party hereto irrevocably waives all right of trial by jury in any action, Proceeding or counterclaim based on, or arising out of, under or in connection with this Agreement, any other Transaction Document, or any matter arising hereunder or thereunder.
SECTION 8.14 Limitation of Liability.
(a) Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, this Agreement has been executed and delivered by [ ], not in its individual capacity but solely as Owner Trustee, and in no event shall it have any liability for the representations, warranties, covenants, agreements or other obligations of the Issuer hereunder or under the Notes or any of the other Transaction Documents or in any of the certificates, notices or agreements delivered pursuant thereto, as to all of which recourse shall be had solely to the assets of the Issuer. Under no circumstances shall the Owner Trustee be personally liable for the payment of any indebtedness or expense of the Issuer or be liable for the breach or failure of any obligations, representation, warranty or covenant made or undertaken by the Issuer under the Transaction Documents. For the purposes of this Agreement, in the performance of its duties or obligations hereunder, the Owner Trustee shall be subject to, and entitled to the benefits of, the terms and provisions of Articles VI, VII and VIII of the Trust Agreement.
(b) Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, this Agreement has been executed and delivered by [ ], not in its individual capacity but solely as Indenture Trustee, and in no event shall it have any liability for the representations, warranties, covenants, agreements or other obligations of the Issuer under the Notes or any of the other Transaction Documents or in any of the certificates, notices or agreements delivered pursuant thereto, as to all of which recourse shall be had solely to the assets of the Issuer. Under no circumstances shall the Indenture Trustee be personally liable for the payment of any indebtedness or expense of the Issuer or be liable for the breach or failure of any obligations, representation, warranty or covenant made or undertaken by the Issuer under the Transaction Documents.
SECTION 8.15 Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto, the Noteholders and the Certificateholder and their respective successors and permitted assigns and the Owner Trustee shall be an express third party beneficiary hereof and may enforce the provisions hereof as if it were a party hereto. Except as otherwise provided in this Section 8.15, no other Person will have any right hereunder.
26 | Servicing Agreement |
SECTION 8.16 Information Requests. The parties hereto shall provide any information reasonably requested by the Servicer, the Issuer, the Depositor or any of their Affiliates, in order to comply with or obtain more favorable treatment under any current or future law, rule, regulation, accounting rule or principle.
SECTION 8.17 Regulation AB. The Servicer shall cooperate fully with the Depositor and the Issuer to deliver to the Depositor and the Issuer (including any of its assignees or designees) any and all statements, reports, certifications, records and any other information necessary in the good faith determination of the Depositor or the Issuer to permit the Depositor to comply with the provisions of Regulation AB and its reporting requirements under the Exchange Act, together with such disclosures relating to the Servicer and the Receivables, or the servicing of the Receivables, reasonably believed by the Depositor to be necessary in order to effect such compliance.
SECTION 8.18 Information to Be Provided by the Indenture Trustee.
(a) For so long as the Depositor is filing reports under the Exchange Act with respect to the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee shall (i) on or before the fifth Business Day of each month, notify the Depositor, in writing, of any Form 10-D Disclosure Item with respect to the Indenture Trustee, together with a description of any such Form 10-D Disclosure Item in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Depositor; provided, however, that the Indenture Trustee shall not be required to provide such information in the event that there has been no change to the information previously provided by the Indenture Trustee to Depositor, and (ii) as promptly as practicable following notice to or discovery by a Responsible Officer of the Indenture Trustee of any changes to such information, provide to the Depositor, in writing, such updated information.
(b) As soon as available but no later than March 15 of each calendar year for so long as the Depositor is filing reports with respect to the Issuer under the Exchange Act, commencing on March 15, [ ], the Indenture Trustee shall:
(i) deliver to the Depositor a report regarding the Indenture Trustee’s assessment of compliance with the Servicing Criteria during the immediately preceding calendar year, (or since the Closing Date in the case of the first such report) as required under paragraph (b) of Rule 13a-18, Rule 15d-18 of the Exchange Act and Item 1122 of Regulation AB. Such report shall be signed by a Responsible Officer of the Indenture Trustee, and shall address each of the Servicing Criteria specified in Exhibit A or such other criteria as mutually agreed upon by the Depositor and the Indenture Trustee;
(ii) cause a firm of registered public accountants that is qualified and independent within the meaning of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act to deliver to the Depositor a report for inclusion in the Depositor’s filing of Exchange Act Form 10-K with respect to the Issuer that attests to, and reports on, the assessment of compliance made by the Indenture Trustee and delivered to the Depositor pursuant to the preceding paragraph. Such attestation shall be in accordance with Rules 1-02(a)(3) and 2-02(g) of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act;
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(iii) deliver to the Depositor and any other Person that will be responsible for signing the certification (a “Sarbanes Certification”) required by Rules 13a-14(d) and 15d-14(d) under the Exchange Act (pursuant to Section 302 of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act) on behalf of the Issuer or the Depositor, a back-up certification substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B or such form as mutually agreed upon by the Depositor and the Indenture Trustee;
(iv) notify the Depositor in writing of any affiliations or relationships (as described in Item 1119 of Regulation AB) between the Indenture Trustee and any Item 1119 Party, provided, that no such notification need be made if the affiliations or relationships are unchanged from those provided in the notification in the prior calendar year; and
(v) deliver to the Depositor the certification substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C, or such other form as is mutually agreed upon by the Depositor and the Indenture Trustee regarding any affiliations or relationships (as described in Item 1119 of Regulation AB) between the Indenture Trustee and any Item 1119 Party and any Form 10-D Disclosure Item.
The Indenture Trustee acknowledges that the parties identified in clause (iii) above may rely on the certification provided by the Indenture Trustee pursuant to such clause in signing a Sarbanes Certification and filing such with the Commission.
(c) The Indenture Trustee shall provide the Depositor and the Servicer (each, a “Transaction Party” and, collectively, the “Transaction Parties”) with (i) notification, as soon as practicable and in any event within five Business Days, of all demands communicated to the Indenture Trustee for the repurchase or replacement of any Receivable pursuant to Section 3.6 of this Agreement, Section 3.3 of the Sale Agreement or Section 3.3 of the Purchase Agreement, as applicable and (ii) promptly upon request by a Transaction Party, any other information reasonably requested by a Transaction Party to facilitate compliance by the Transaction Parties with Rule 15Ga-1 under the Exchange Act, and Items 1104(e) and 1121(c) of Regulation AB. In no event shall the Indenture Trustee be deemed to be a “securitizer” as defined in Section 15Ga of the Exchange Act, nor shall it have any responsibility for making any filing to be made by a securitizer under the Exchange Act or Regulation AB.
SECTION 8.19 Form 8-K Filings. So long as the Depositor is filing Exchange Act Reports with respect to the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee shall promptly notify the Depositor, but in no event later than one (1) Business Day after its occurrence, of any Reportable Event of which a Responsible Officer of the Indenture Trustee has actual knowledge (other than a Reportable Event described in clause (a) or (b) of the definition thereof as to which the Depositor or the Servicer has actual knowledge). The Indenture Trustee shall be deemed to have actual knowledge of any such event to the extent that it relates to the Indenture Trustee or any action or failure to act by the Indenture Trustee.
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SECTION 8.20 Rights of the Certificateholder. Notwithstanding anything contained herein or in any Transaction Document to the contrary, after the Notes are no longer Outstanding following payment in full of the principal and interest on the Notes, (i) the Certificateholder will succeed to the rights of the Noteholders under this Agreement, (ii) the Owner Trustee will succeed to the rights of, but not, without its express consent, the obligations of the Indenture Trustee pursuant to this Agreement and (iii) the Collection Account will continue to be maintained as set forth in Section 4.4; provided, however, the Certificateholder shall not be entitled to any payments pursuant to Section 4.4 other than pursuant to clause (ix) thereof.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized as of the day and year first above written.
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Servicer | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
S-1 | Servicing Agreement |
CHASE AUTO OWNER TRUST [ ], as Issuer | ||||
By: | [ ], | |||
not in its individual capacity but | ||||
solely as Owner Trustee | ||||
By: | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: |
S-2 | Servicing Agreement |
[ ], not in its individual capacity but solely as Indenture Trustee | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
S-3 | Servicing Agreement |
EXHIBIT A
SERVICING CRITERIA TO BE ADDRESSED IN
INDENTURE TRUSTEE’S ASSESSMENT OF COMPLIANCE
The assessment of compliance to be delivered by the Indenture Trustee shall address, at a
minimum, the criteria identified below as “Applicable Servicing Criteria”1:
Servicing Criteria |
Applicable Servicing | |||
Reference |
Criteria |
|||
General Servicing Considerations | ||||
1122(d)(1)(i) | Policies and procedures are instituted to monitor any performance or other triggers and events of default in accordance with the transaction agreements. | |||
1122(d)(1)(ii) | If any material servicing activities are outsourced to third parties, policies and procedures are instituted to monitor the third party’s performance and compliance with such servicing activities. | |||
1122(d)(1)(iii) | Any requirements in the transaction agreements to maintain a back-up servicer for the pool assets are maintained. | |||
1122(d)(1)(iv) | A fidelity bond and errors and omissions policy is in effect on the party participating in the servicing function throughout the reporting period in the amount of coverage required by and otherwise in accordance with the terms of the transaction agreements. | |||
Cash Collection and Administration | ||||
1122(d)(2)(i) | Payments on pool assets are deposited into the appropriate custodial bank accounts and related bank clearing accounts no more than two business days following receipt, or such other number of days specified in the transaction agreements. | |||
1122(d)(2)(ii) | Disbursements made via wire transfer on behalf of an obligor or to an investor are made only by authorized personnel. | X | ||
1122(d)(2)(iii) | Advances of funds or guarantees regarding collections, cash flows or distributions, and any interest or other fees charged for such advances, are made, reviewed and approved as specified in the transaction agreements. | |||
1122(d)(2)(iv) | The related accounts for the transaction, such as cash reserve accounts or accounts established as a form of overcollateralization, are separately maintained (e.g., with respect to commingling of cash) as set forth in the transaction agreements. | X | ||
1122(d)(2)(v) | Each custodial account is maintained at a federally insured depository institution as set forth in the transaction agreements. For purposes of this criterion, “federally insured depository institution” with respect to a foreign financial institution means a foreign financial institution that meets the requirements of Rule 13k-1(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act. | X2 | ||
1122(d)(2)(vi) | Unissued checks are safeguarded so as to prevent unauthorized access. |
1 | Each assessment of compliance delivered by the Indenture Trustee shall be made only toward such portion(s) of the servicing criteria applicable to the Indenture Trustee and not such other portion(s) applicable to other persons. |
2 | Assessment of compliance to be given by Indenture Trustee shall be only with respect to trust accounts maintained by the Indenture Trustee under the Servicing Agreement and the Indenture. |
A-1 | Exhibit A to the Servicing Agreement |
Servicing Criteria |
Applicable Servicing Criteria | |||
Reference |
Criteria |
|||
1122(d)(2)(vii) | Reconciliations are prepared on a monthly basis for all asset-backed securities related bank accounts, including custodial accounts and related bank clearing accounts. These reconciliations are (A) mathematically accurate; (B) prepared within 30 calendar days after the bank statement cutoff date, or such other number of days specified in the transaction agreements; (C) reviewed and approved by someone other than the person who prepared the reconciliation; and (D) contain explanations for reconciling items. These reconciling items are resolved within 90 calendar days of their original identification, or such other number of days specified in the transaction agreements. | |||
Investor Remittances and Reporting | ||||
1122(d)(3)(i) |
Reports to investors, including those to be filed with the Commission, are maintained in accordance with the transaction agreements and applicable Commission requirements. Specifically, such reports (A) are prepared in accordance with timeframes and other terms set forth in the transaction agreements; (B) provide information calculated in accordance with the terms specified in the transaction agreements; (C) are filed with the Commission as required by its rules and regulations; and (D) agree with investors’ or the trustee’s records as to the total unpaid principal balance and number of pool assets serviced by the Servicer. | |||
1122(d)(3)(ii) |
Amounts due to investors are allocated and remitted in accordance with timeframes, distribution priority and other terms set forth in the transaction agreements. | X (solely with respect to remittances) | ||
1122(d)(3)(iii) |
Disbursements made to an investor are posted within two business days to the Servicer’s investor records, or such other number of days specified in the transaction agreements. | X | ||
1122(d)(3)(iv) |
Amounts remitted to investors per the investor reports agree with cancelled checks, or other form of payment, or custodial bank statements. | X | ||
Pool Asset Administration | ||||
1122(d)(4)(i) |
Collateral or security on pool assets is maintained as required by the transaction agreements or related asset pool documents. | |||
1122(d)(4)(ii) |
Pool assets and related documents are safeguarded as required by the transaction agreements | |||
1122(d)(4)(iii) |
Any additions, removals or substitutions to the asset pool are made, reviewed and approved in accordance with any conditions or requirements in the transaction agreements. | |||
1122(d)(4)(iv) |
Payments on pool assets, including any payoffs, made in accordance with the related pool asset documents are posted to the Servicer’s obligor records maintained no more than two business days after receipt, or such other number of days specified in the transaction agreements, and allocated to principal, interest or other items (e.g., escrow) in accordance with the related asset pool documents. | |||
1122(d)(4)(v) |
The Servicer’s records regarding the accounts and the accounts agree with the Servicer’s records with respect to an obligor’s unpaid principal balance. | |||
1122(d)(4)(vi) |
Changes with respect to the terms or status of an obligor’s account (e.g., loan modifications or re-agings) are made, reviewed and approved by authorized personnel in accordance with the transaction agreements and related pool asset documents. | |||
1122(d)(4)(vii) |
Loss mitigation or recovery actions (e.g., forbearance plans, modifications and deeds in lieu of foreclosure, foreclosures and repossessions, as applicable) are initiated, conducted and concluded in accordance with the timeframes or other requirements established by the transaction agreements. |
A-2 | Exhibit A to the Servicing Agreement |
Servicing Criteria |
Applicable Servicing Criteria | |||
Reference |
Criteria |
|||
1122(d)(4)(viii) | Records documenting collection efforts are maintained during the period a pool asset is delinquent in accordance with the transaction agreements. Such records are maintained on at least a monthly basis, or such other period specified in the transaction agreements, and describe the entity’s activities in monitoring delinquent pool assets including, for example, phone calls, letters and payment rescheduling plans in cases where delinquency is deemed temporary (e.g., illness or unemployment). | |||
1122(d)(4)(ix) | Adjustments to interest rates or rates of return for pool assets with variable rates are computed based on the related pool asset documents. | |||
1122(d)(4)(x) | Regarding any funds held in trust for an obligor (such as escrow accounts): (A) such funds are analyzed, in accordance with the obligor’s Account documents, on at least an annual basis, or such other period specified in the transaction agreements; (B) interest on such funds is paid, or credited, to obligors in accordance with applicable Account documents and state laws; and (C) such funds are returned to the obligor within 30 calendar days of full repayment of the related Accounts, or such other number of days specified in the transaction agreements. | |||
1122(d)(4)(xi) | Payments made on behalf of an obligor (such as tax or insurance payments) are made on or before the related penalty or expiration dates, as indicated on the appropriate bills or notices for such payments, provided that such support has been received by the servicer at least 30 calendar days prior to these dates, or such other number of days specified in the transaction agreements. | |||
1122(d)(4)(xii) | Any late payment penalties in connection with any payment to be made on behalf of an obligor are paid from the servicer’s funds and not charged to the obligor, unless the late payment was due to the obligor’s error or omission. | |||
1122(d)(4)(xiii) | Disbursements made on behalf of an obligor are posted within two business days to the obligor’s records maintained by the servicer, or such other number of days specified in the transaction agreements. | |||
1122(d)(4)(xiv) | Delinquencies, charge-offs and uncollectible accounts are recognized and recorded in accordance with the transaction agreements. | |||
1122(d)(4)(xv) | Any external enhancement or other support, identified in Item 1114(a)(1) through (3) or Item 1115 of Regulation AB, is maintained as set forth in the transaction agreements. |
A-3 | Exhibit A to the Servicing Agreement |
EXHIBIT B
FORM OF INDENTURE TRUSTEE’S ANNUAL CERTIFICATION
Re: CHASE AUTO OWNER TRUST [ ]
[ ], not in its individual capacity but solely as indenture trustee (the “Indenture Trustee”), certifies to Chase Auto Receivables LLC (the “Depositor”), and its officers, with the knowledge and intent that they will rely upon this certification, that:
(1) It has reviewed the report on assessment of the Indenture Trustee’s compliance provided in accordance with Rules 13a-18 and 15d-18 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and Item 1122 of Regulation AB (the “Servicing Assessment”) (collectively, the “Indenture Trustee Information”);
(2) To the best of its knowledge, the Indenture Trustee Information, taken as a whole, does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in the light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period of time covered by the Indenture Trustee Information; and
(3) To the best of its knowledge, all of the information required to be provided by the Indenture Trustee pursuant to Sections 8.18 and 8.19 of the Agreement has been provided to the Depositor.
[__________], not in its individual capacity but solely as Indenture Trustee | ||
Date: |
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B-1 | Exhibit B to the Servicing Agreement |
EXHIBIT C
FORM OF INDENTURE TRUSTEE’S ANNUAL CERTIFICATION
REGARDING ITEM 1117 AND ITEM 1119 OF REGULATION AB
Reference is made to the Form 10-K of Chase Auto Receivables LLC with respect to Chase Auto Owner Trust [ ] (the “Form 10-K”) for the fiscal year ended December 31, 20[ ]. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings given to them in the Form 10-K.
[ ], a [ ] organized under the laws of the State of [ ] (“[ ]”), does hereby certify to the Sponsor, the Depositor and the Issuing Entity that:
1. As of the date of the Form 10-K, there are no pending legal proceedings against [ ] or proceedings known to be contemplated by governmental authorities against [ ] that would be material to the investors in the Notes.
2. As of the date of the Form 10-K, there are no affiliations, as contemplated by Item 1119 of Regulation AB, between [ ] and any of JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association (in its capacity as Sponsor, Originator, Servicer and Administrator), Chase Auto Receivables LLC, the Indenture Trustee, the Owner Trustee and the Issuing Entity, or any affiliates of such parties.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, [ ] has caused this certificate to be executed in its corporate name by an officer thereunto duly authorized.
Dated: , 20[ ]
[ ], as Indenture Trustee | ||
By: |
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Name: |
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Title: |
C-1 | Exhibit C to the Servicing Agreement |