EXHIBIT 99.3
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The Item 1115 Agreement
Item 1115 Agreement dated as of January 26, 2006 (this "Agreement"),
between COUNTRYWIDE HOME LOANS, INC., a New York corporation ("CHL"), CWABS,
INC., a Delaware corporation ("CWABS"), CWMBS, Inc., a Delaware corporation
("CWMBS"), CWALT, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("CWALT"), CWHEQ, Inc., a
Delaware corporation ("CWHEQ") and SWISS RE FINANCIAL PRODUCTS CORPORATION, as
counterparty (the "Counterparty").
RECITALS
WHEREAS, CWABS, CWMBS, CWALT and CWHEQ each have filed
Registration Statements on Form S-3 (each, a "Registration Statement") with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") for purposes of
offering mortgage backed or asset-backed notes and/or certificates (the
"Securities") through special purpose vehicles (each, an "SPV").
WHEREAS, from time to time, on the closing date (the "Closing
Date") of a transaction pursuant to which Securities are offered (each, a
"Transaction"), the Counterparty and CHL or an underwriter or dealer with
respect to the Transaction, enter into certain derivative agreements (each, a
"Derivative Agreement"), including interest rate or currency swaps, for
purposes of providing certain yield enhancements that are assigned to the SPV
or the related trustee on behalf of the SPV or a swap or corridor contract
administrator (each, an "Administrator").
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements set
forth herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
adequacy of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereby agree as follows:
Section 1. Definitions
Company Information: As defined in Section 4(a)(i).
Company Financial Information: As defined in Section 2(a)(ii).
Depositor: Means CWABS, CWMBS, CWALT or CWHEQ with respect to the
related Registration Statement for which the entity of the registrant.
GAAP: As defined in Section 3(a)(v).
XXXXX: The Commission's Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and
Retrieval system.
Exchange Act: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and
the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
Exchange Act Reports: All Distribution Reports on Form 10-D,
Current Reports on Form 8-K and Annual Reports on Form 10-K that are to be
filed with respect to the related SPV pursuant to the Exchange Act.
Master Agreement: The ISDA Master Agreement between the
Counterparty and CHL, or if no such Master Agreement exists, the ISDA Master
Agreement assumed to apply to the Derivative Agreement pursuant to its terms.
Prospectus Supplement: The prospectus supplement prepared in
connection with the public offering and sale of the related Securities.
Regulation AB: Subpart 229.1100 - Asset Backed Securities
(Regulation AB), 17 C.F.R. ss.ss.229.1100-229.1123, as such may be amended
from time to time, and subject to such clarification and interpretation as
have been provided by the Commission in the adopting release (Asset-Backed
Securities, Securities Act Release No. 33-8518, 70 Fed. Reg. 1,506, 1,531
(Jan. 7, 2005)) or by the staff of the Commission, or as may be provided by
the Commission or its staff from time to time.
Securities Act: The Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the
rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
Section 2. Information to be Provided by the Counterparty.
(a) Prior to printing the related Prospectus Supplement,
(i) the Counterparty shall provide to the related Depositor such
information regarding the Counterparty, as a derivative
instrument counterparty, as is reasonably requested by the
related Depositor for the purpose of compliance with Item
1115(a)(1) of Regulation AB. Such information shall include,
at a minimum:
(A) The Counterparty's legal name (and any d/b/a);
(B) the organizational form of the Counterparty;
(C) a description of the general character of the business
of the Counterparty;
(D) a description of any material legal or governmental
proceedings pending (or known to be contemplated)
against the Counterparty which may have a material
impact on the Counterparty's ability to perform under
the related Derivative Agreement;
(E) a description of any affiliation or relationship
between the Counterparty and any of the following
parties:
(1) CHL (or any other sponsor identified to the
Counterparty by CHL);
(2) the related Depositor (as identified to the
Counterparty by CHL);
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(3) the SPV;
(4) Countrywide Home Loans Servicing LP (or any
other servicer or master servicer identified to
the Counterparty by CHL);
(5) The Bank of New York (or any other trustee
identified to the Counterparty by CHL);
(6) any originator identified to the Counterparty by
CHL;
(7) any enhancement or support provider identified
to the Counterparty by CHL; and
(8) any other material transaction party identified
to the Counterparty by CHL.
(ii) if requested by the related Depositor for the purpose of
compliance with Item 1115(b) with respect to a Transaction,
the Counterparty shall:
(A) provide the financial data required by Item 1115(b)(1)
or (b)(2) of Regulation AB (as specified by the
related Depositor to the Counterparty) with respect to
the Counterparty (or any entity that consolidates the
Counterparty) and any affiliated entities providing
derivative instruments to the SPV (the "Company
Financial Information"), in a form appropriate for use
in the Prospectus Supplement and in an
XXXXX-compatible form; and
(B) if applicable, cause its accountants to issue their
consent to the filing of such financial statements in
the Registration Statement.
(b) Following the Closing Date with respect to a Transaction,
(i) (I) no later than the 25th calendar day of each month, the
Counterparty shall (i) notify the related Depositor in
writing of (A) any material litigation or governmental
proceedings pending against the Counterparty which may have
a material impact on the Counterparty's ability to perform
under the related Derivative Agreement or (B) any
affiliations or relationships that develop following the
Closing Date between the Counterparty and any of the parties
specified in Section 2(a)(i)(E) (and any other parties
identified in writing by the related Depositor) and (ii)
provide to the related Depositor a description of such
proceedings, affiliations or relationships as described in
Section 2(b)(i)(I)(i); and
(ii) if the Counterparty provided Company Financial Information
to the related Depositor for the Prospectus Supplement,
within 5 Business Days of the release of any updated
financial data, the Counterparty shall (1) provide current
Company Financial Information as required under Item
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1115(b) of Regulation AB to the related Depositor in an
XXXXX-compatible form, and (2) if applicable, cause its
accountants to issue their consent to filing or
incorporation by reference of such financial statements in
the Exchange Act Reports of the SPV;
(iii) if the related Depositor requests Company Financial
Information from the Counterparty, for the purpose of
compliance with Item 1115(b) of Regulation AB following the
Closing Date, the Counterparty shall upon five Business Days
written notice either (A), (1) provide current Company
Financial Information as required under Item 1115(b) of
Regulation AB to the related Depositor in an
XXXXX-compatible form, (2) if applicable, cause its
accountants to issue their consent to filing or
incorporation by reference of such financial statements in
the Exchange Act Reports of the SPV and (3) within 5
Business Days of the release of any updated financial data,
provide current Company Financial Information as required
under Item 1115(b) of Regulation AB to the related Depositor
in an XXXXX-compatible form and if applicable, cause its
accountants to issue their consent to filing or
incorporation by reference of such financial statements in
the Exchange Act Reports of the SPV or (B) assign the
Derivative Agreement as provided below.
(c) Prior to printing of any Prospectus Supplement, CHL and Depositor
will inform the Counterparty of the scope and extent of the
information that they need to receive from the Counterparty for
use in the related Prospectus Supplement for the purpose of
compliance with Item 1115 of Regulation AB (the "Scope of
Information"). CHL and the Depositor acknowledge that the
Counterparty need not undertake any review of the related
Prospectus Supplement (other than with respect to the Company
Information and/or the Company Financial Information) in
connection with its provision of the Company Information and/or
the Company Financial Information.
Section 3. Representations and Warranties and Covenants of the Counterparty.
(a) The Counterparty represents and warrants to the related Depositor,
as of the date on which information is first provided to the
related Depositor under Section 2(a)(ii), Section 2(b)(ii) or
Section 2(b)(iii)(A), that, except as disclosed in writing the
related Depositor prior to such date:
(i) The accountants who certify the financial statements and
supporting schedules included in the Company Financial
Information (if applicable) are independent registered
public accountants as required by the Securities Act.
(ii) If applicable, the financial statements included in the
Company Financial Information present fairly the
consolidated financial position of the Counterparty (or the
entity that consolidates the Counterparty) and its
consolidated subsidiaries as at the dates indicated and the
consolidated
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results of their operations and cash flows for the periods
specified; except as otherwise stated in the Company
Financial Information, said financial statements have been
prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles ("GAAP") applied on a consistent basis; and the
supporting schedules included in the Company Financial
Information present fairly in accordance with GAAP the
information required to be stated therein. The selected
financial data and summary financial information included in
the Company Financial Information present fairly the
information shown therein and have been compiled on a basis
consistent with that of the audited financial statements of
the Counterparty.
(iii) The Company Financial Information and other Company
Information included or incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement (including through filing on an
Exchange Act Report), at the time they were or hereafter are
filed with the Commission, complied in all material respects
with the requirements of Item 1115(b) of Regulation AB (in
the case of the Company Financial Information) and, did not
and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact
or omit to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading.
(b) The Counterparty agrees that the terms of this Agreement shall be
incorporated by reference into any Derivative Agreement so that
each SPV who is a beneficiary of a Derivative Agreement shall be
an express third party beneficiary of this Agreement.
Section 4. Indemnification; Remedies
(a) The Counterparty shall indemnify CHL and the related Depositor,
each person responsible for the preparation, execution or filing
of any report required to be filed with the Commission with
respect to such SPV, or for execution of a certification pursuant
to Rule 13a-14(d) or Rule 15d-14(d) under the Exchange Act; each
person who controls any of such parties (within the meaning of
Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange
Act); and the respective present and former directors, officers,
employees and agents of each of the foregoing, and shall hold each
of them harmless from and against any losses, damages, penalties,
fines, forfeitures, legal fees and expenses and related costs,
judgments, and any other costs, fees and expenses that any of them
may sustain arising out of or based upon:
(i) (A) any untrue statement of a material fact contained or
alleged to be contained in any information, report,
certification, accountants' consent or other material
provided in written or electronic form under Section 2 by or
on behalf of the Counterparty (collectively, the "Company
Information"), or (B) the omission or alleged omission to
state in the Company
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Information a material fact required to be stated in the
Company Information or necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading; or
(ii) any breach by the Counterparty of a representation or
warranty set forth in Section 3(a) and made as of a date
prior to the Closing Date, to the extent that such breach is
not cured by the Closing Date, or any breach by the
Counterparty of a representation or warranty pursuant to
Section 3 to the extent made as of a date subsequent to the
Closing Date.
(b) (i) Any failure by the Counterparty to deliver any information,
report, certification, accountants' consent or other
material when and as required under Section 2 or any breach
by the Counterparty of a representation or warranty set
forth in Section 3 and made as of a date prior to the
Closing Date, to the extent that such breach is not cured by
the Closing Date (or in the case of information needed for
purposes of printing the Prospectus Supplement, the date of
printing of the Prospectus Supplement), or any breach by the
Counterparty of a representation or warranty pursuant to
Section 3 to the extent made as of a date subsequent to such
closing date, shall, except as provided in clause (ii) of
this paragraph, immediately and automatically, without
notice or grace period, constitute an Additional Termination
Event (as defined in the Master Agreement) with the
Counterparty as the sole Affected Party (as defined in the
Master Agreement) under the Derivative Agreement. Following
such termination, a termination payment (if any) shall be
payable by the applicable party as determined by the
application of Section 6(e)(ii) of the Master Agreement,
with Market Quotation and Second Method being the applicable
method for determining the termination payment
(notwithstanding anything in the Derivative Agreement to the
contrary).
(ii) If the Counterparty has failed to deliver any information,
report, certification or accountants' consent when and as
required under Section 2, which continues unremedied for the
lesser of ten calendar days after the date on which such
information, report, certification or accountants' consent
was required to be delivered or such period in which the
applicable Exchange Act Report for which such information is
required can be timely filed (without taking into account
any extensions permitted to be filed), and the Counterparty
has not, at its own cost, within the period in which the
applicable Exchange Act Report for which such information is
required can be timely filed caused another entity (which
meets any applicable ratings threshold in the Derivative
Agreement) to replace the Counterparty as party to the
Derivative Agreement that (i) has signed an agreement with
CHL and the Depositors substantially in the form of this
Agreement, (ii) has agreed to deliver any information,
report, certification or accountants' consent when and as
required under Section 2 hereof and (iii) is approved by the
Depositor (which approval shall not be unreasonably
withheld) and any rating agency, if applicable, on terms
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substantially similar to the Derivative Agreement, then an
Additional Termination Event (as defined in the Master
Agreement) shall have occurred with the Counterparty as the
sole Affected Party. Following such termination, a
termination payment (if any) shall be payable by the
applicable party as determined by the application of Section
6(e)(ii) of the Master Agreement, with Market Quotation and
Second Method being the applicable method for determining
the termination payment (notwithstanding anything in the
Derivative Agreement to the contrary).
(iii) In the event that the Counterparty or the SPV has found a
replacement entity in accordance with Section 2(b)(ii), the
Counterparty shall promptly reimburse the SPV for all
reasonable incidental expenses incurred by the SPV, as such
are incurred, in connection with the termination of the
Counterparty as counterparty and the entry into a new
Derivative Instrument. The provisions of this paragraph
shall not limit whatever rights the SPV may have under other
provisions of this Agreement or otherwise, whether in equity
or at law, such as an action for damages, specific
performance or injunctive relief.
(c) CHL and the related Depositor shall indemnify the Counterparty,
each person who controls the Counterparty (within the meaning of
Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange
Act); and the respective present and former directors, officers,
employees and agents of each of the foregoing, and shall hold each
of them harmless from and against any losses, damages, penalties,
fines, forfeitures, legal fees and expenses and related costs,
judgments, and any other costs, fees and expenses that any of them
may sustain arising out of or based upon (A) any untrue statement
of a material fact contained or alleged to be contained in the
related Prospectus Supplement (other than the Company
Information), or (B) the omission or alleged omission to state in
related Prospectus Supplement (other than the Company Information)
a material fact required to be stated in the Prospectus Supplement
or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light
of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
Section 5. Miscellaneous.
(a) Construction. Throughout this Agreement, as the context requires,
(a) the singular tense and number includes the plural, and the
plural tense and number includes the singular; (b) the past tense
includes the present, and the present tense includes the past; and
(c) references to parties, sections, schedules, and exhibits mean
the parties, sections, schedules, and exhibits of and to this
Agreement. The section headings in this Agreement are inserted
only as a matter of convenience, and in no way define, limit,
extend, or interpret the scope of this Agreement or of any
particular section.
(b) Assignment. None of the parties may assign their rights under this
Agreement without the prior written consent of the other parties.
Subject to the foregoing, this
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Agreement shall be binding on and inure to the benefit of the
parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns.
(c) No Third-Party Benefits Except as Specified. None of the
provisions of this Agreement are intended to benefit, or to be
enforceable by, any third-party beneficiaries except the related
SPV and any trustee of an SPV or any Administrator.
(d) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed
in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York
without regard to the conflict of laws principles thereof.
(e) Amendment and Waiver. This Agreement may not be modified or
amended except by an instrument in writing signed by the parties
hereto. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement or of any
rights or obligations of any party under this Agreement shall be
effective unless in writing and signed by the party or parties
waiving compliance, and shall be effective only in the specific
instance and for the specific purpose stated in that writing.
(f) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all
of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
(g) Additional Documents. Each party hereto agrees to execute any and
all further documents and writings and to perform such other
actions which may be or become necessary or expedient to
effectuate and carry out this Agreement.
(h) Severability. Any provision hereof which is prohibited or
unenforceable shall be ineffective only to the extent of such
prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining
provisions hereof.
(i) Integration. This Agreement contains the entire understanding of
the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof. There are
no restrictions, agreements, promises, representations,
warranties, covenants or undertakings with respect to the subject
matter hereof other than those expressly set forth or referred to
herein. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and
understandings between the parties with respect to its subject
matter.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused their names to
be signed hereto by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized as of
the day and year first above written.
CWABS, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxx
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Name: Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Title: Vice President
CWMBS, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxx
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Name: Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Title: Vice President
CWALT, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxx
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Name: Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Title: Vice President
CWHEQ, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxx
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Name: Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Title: Vice President
COUNTRYWIDE HOME LOANS, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxx
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Name: Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Title: Vice President
SWISS RE FINANCIAL PRODUCTS CORPORATION
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By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxx
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Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxx
Title: President
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