PURCHASE AGREEMENT between WELLS FARGO FINANCIAL RECEIVABLES, LLC, as Transferor and ACE SECURITIES CORP., as Purchaser Dated as of May 31, 2005
Exhibit 10.3
between
XXXXX FARGO FINANCIAL RECEIVABLES, LLC,
as Transferor
and
ACE SECURITIES CORP.,
as Purchaser
Dated as of May 31, 2005
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.1.
DEFINITIONS
1
SECTION 1.2.
OTHER INTERPRETIVE PROVISIONS
2
ARTICLE II
PURCHASE AND SALE OF RECEIVABLES
SECTION 2.1.
PURCHASE AND SALE OF RECEIVABLES.
2
SECTION 2.2.
RECEIVABLES PURCHASE PRICE
3
SECTION 2.3.
TRANSFEROR’S REPURCHASE RIGHT
3
SECTION 2.4.
EXPENSES
3
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
SECTION 3.1.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PURCHASER
4
SECTION 3.2.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF TRANSFEROR
5
SECTION 3.3.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES AS TO EACH
RECEIVABLE
7
SECTION 3.4.
REPURCHASE UPON BREACH
11
SECTION 3.5.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES WITH RESPECT TO
REVISED ARTICLE 9
12
ARTICLE IV
CONDITIONS
SECTION 4.1.
CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATION OF THE PURCHASER
13
SECTION 4.2.
CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATION OF THE TRANSFEROR
15
SECTION 4.3.
TERMINATION OF OBLIGATIONS
15
ARTICLE V
COVENANTS OF TRANSFEROR
SECTION 5.1.
PROTECTION OF TITLE TO TRANSFEROR ASSETS
16
SECTION 5.2.
NONPETITION COVENANT
18
ARTICLE VI
INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION
SECTION 6.1.
INDEMNIFICATION
18
SECTION 6.2.
CONTRIBUTION
20
ARTICLE VII
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
SECTION 7.1.
OBLIGATIONS OF TRANSFEROR
21
SECTION 7.2.
TRANSFEROR’S ASSIGNMENT OF PURCHASED
RECEIVABLES
22
SECTION 7.3.
SUBSEQUENT TRANSFER TO ISSUER AND INDENTURE
TRUSTEE
22
SECTION 7.4.
AMENDMENT
22
SECTION 7.5.
WAIVERS
23
SECTION 7.6.
NOTICES
23
SECTION 7.7.
COSTS AND EXPENSES
23
SECTION 7.8.
REPRESENTATIONS TO TRANSFEROR
24
SECTION 7.9.
GOVERNING LAW
24
SECTION 7.10.
COUNTERPARTS
24
SECTION 7.11.
THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES
24
THIS PURCHASE AGREEMENT (as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified and in effect, this “Agreement”) is made as of this 31st day of May, 2005 by and between XXXXX FARGO FINANCIAL RECEIVABLES, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Transferor”), and ACE SECURITIES CORP., a Delaware corporation (the “Purchaser”).
WHEREAS, Purchaser desires to purchase from Transferor such portfolio of Loans; and
WHEREAS, Transferor is willing to sell such portfolio of Loans to Purchaser.
SECTION 1.1.
“BASE PROSPECTUS” means the base prospectus dated June 7, 2005, relating to the Notes.
“PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT” means the prospectus supplement dated June 10, 2005, relating to the Notes.
“REGISTRATION STATEMENT” means the registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-119047) filed by the Seller with the Commission on September 16, 2004, as amended by Amendment No. 1, filed by the Seller with the Commission on September 23, 2004.
“UNDERWRITERS’ INFORMATION” means the information set forth in the table following the third paragraph of text and the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh paragraphs of text under the caption “Underwriting” in the Prospectus Supplement.
SECTION 1.2.
ARTICLE II
PURCHASE AND SALE OF RECEIVABLES
SECTION 2.1.
PURCHASE AND SALE OF RECEIVABLES.
Effective as of the Closing Date and immediately prior to the transactions pursuant to the Indenture, the Sale and Servicing Agreement and the Trust Agreement, Transferor does hereby sell, transfer, assign, set over and otherwise convey to Purchaser, without recourse (subject to the obligations herein) (the “Transferor Assets”):
(a)
all right, title and interest of Transferor in and to the Receivables, and all monies received thereon after the Cutoff Date;
(b)
all right, title and interest of Transferor in the security interests in the Financed Vehicles granted by Obligors pursuant to the Receivables and any other interest of Transferor in the Financed Vehicles and any other property that shall secure the Receivables;
(c)
the interest of Transferor in any proceeds with respect to the Receivables from claims on any Insurance Policies covering Financed Vehicles or the Obligors or from claims under any lender’s single interest insurance policy naming Transferor as an insured;
(d)
the interest of Transferor in any proceeds from (i) any Receivable repurchased by a Dealer pursuant to a Dealer Agreement as a result of a breach of representation or warranty in the related Dealer Agreement, (ii) a default by an Obligor resulting in the repossession of the Financed Vehicle under the applicable Loans or (iii) any Dealer Recourse or other rights relating to the Receivables under Dealer Agreements;
(e)
all right, title and interest of Transferor in any instrument or document relating to the Receivables;
(f)
all rights but not the obligations of Transferor under the Sale Agreement; and
(g)
the proceeds of any and all of the foregoing.
The sale, transfer, assignment, setting over and conveyance made hereunder shall not constitute and is not intended to result in an assumption by Purchaser of any obligation of Transferor to the Obligors, the Dealers or any other Person in connection with the Receivables and the other assets and properties conveyed hereunder or any agreement, document or instrument related thereto.
It is the express intention of Transferor and Purchaser that (a) the assignment and transfer herein contemplated constitute a sale of the Receivables and the other Transferor Assets described above, conveying good title thereto free and clear of any liens, encumbrances, security interests or rights of other Persons, from Transferor to Purchaser and (b) the Receivables and the other Transferor Assets described above not be a part of Transferor’s estate in the event of a bankruptcy or insolvency of Transferor. If, notwithstanding the intention of Transferor and Purchaser, such conveyance is deemed to be a pledge in connection with a financing or is otherwise deemed not to be a sale, Transferor hereby grants, and the parties intend that Transferor shall have granted to the Purchaser, a first priority perfected security interest in all of Transferor’s right, title and interest in the items of the Transferor Assets and all proceeds of the foregoing, and that this Agreement shall constitute a security agreement under applicable law and the Purchaser shall have all of the rights and remedies of a secured party and creditor under the UCC as in force in the relevant jurisdictions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Transferor intends on treating the sale of the Transferor Assets to the Purchaser as a financing for accounting purposes.
SECTION 2.2.
RECEIVABLES PURCHASE PRICE. In consideration for the Transferor Assets, Purchaser shall, on the Closing Date, pay to Transferor the Receivables Purchase Price. The “Receivables Purchase Price” shall be $998,049,687 in cash and the Certificates.
SECTION 2.3.
TRANSFEROR’S REPURCHASE RIGHT. The Transferor shall have the right to repurchase, in the aggregate, Receivables that constitute up to 2.00% of the Original Pool Balance, exercisable at any time as of the first day of a calendar month; provided, however, that the Receivables repurchased pursuant to this Section 2.3 shall not include any Receivables repurchased pursuant to Section 3.4.
SECTION 2.4.
EXPENSES. The Transferor shall pay (or shall reimburse the Purchaser or an affiliate on its behalf to the extent that the Purchaser of such affiliate shall pay) for certain of the expenses of the Purchaser in connection with the issuance and sale of the Notes and any taxes payable in connection therewith, including: (i) expenses incident to the preparing, printing, reproducing and distributing of the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, (ii) the fees and expenses of qualifying the Notes under the securities laws of the several jurisdictions and of preparing, printing and distributing any blue sky survey (including related fees and expenses of counsel to the Underwriter), (iii) any fees charged by Xxxxx’x, Fitch and Standard & Poor’s in connection with the rating of the Notes, (iv) the fees of DTC in connection with the book-entry registration of the Notes, (v) the fees and disbursements of the Indenture Trustee and the Owner Trustee and their respective counsels, (vi) the fees and disbursements of the accountants, (vii) the fees and disbursements of XxXxx Xxxxxx LLP, counsel to the Purchaser and Underwriter, in connection with the purchase of the Receivables hereunder and the issuance and sale of the Notes and (viii) the filing fee charged by the SEC for registration of the Notes; provided, that the Purchaser or the Underwriter shall pay any transfer taxes on the Notes which the Underwriter may resell and the expenses of advertising any offering of the Notes made by the Purchaser or the Underwriter.
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
SECTION 3.1.
(a)
Organization and Good Standing. Purchaser has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and has the power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform the terms and provisions hereof.
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
No Proceedings. There are no proceedings or investigations pending, or, to the knowledge of Purchaser, threatened, before any court, regulatory body, administrative agency, or other tribunal or governmental instrumentality having jurisdiction over Purchaser or its properties: (i) asserting the invalidity of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated herein, (ii) seeking to prevent the consummation of any of the transactions by this Agreement, (iii) seeking any determination or ruling that might materially and adversely affect the performance by Purchaser of its obligations under, or the validity or enforceability of, this Agreement or the transactions contemplated herein, or (iv) that may materially and adversely affect this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
SECTION 3.2.
(a)
Organization and Good Standing. Transferor has been duly organized and is validly existing as a limited liability company in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and has the power and authority to execute and legal right to own its properties and conduct its motor vehicle retail installment sale contract business as such properties are at present owned and such business is at present conducted and had at all relevant times, and has, power, authority and legal right to acquire, own and sell the Transferor Assets pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
No Proceedings. There are no proceedings or investigations pending, or, to the knowledge of Transferor, threatened, before any court, regulatory body, administrative agency, or other tribunal or governmental instrumentality having jurisdiction over Transferor or its properties: (i) asserting the invalidity of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated herein, (ii) seeking to prevent the consummation of any of the transactions by this Agreement, (iii) seeking any determination or ruling that might materially and adversely affect the performance by Transferor of its obligations under, or the validity or enforceability of, this Agreement or the transactions contemplated herein, or (iv) that may materially and adversely affect this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
(h)
Compliance with Requirements of Law. The Transferor shall duly satisfy all obligations on its part to be fulfilled under or in connection with each Receivable, will maintain in effect all qualifications required under Requirements of Law and will comply in all material respects with all other Requirements of Law the failure to comply with which would have a material adverse effect on the Transferor’s performance of its obligations under this Agreement.
(i)
Chief Executive Office. The chief executive office of Transferor is set forth in Exhibit A attached hereto.
(j)
SECTION 3.3.
(a)
(b)
(c)
Past Due. At the Cutoff Date, no Receivable was more than 30 days past due.
(d)
(e)
(f)
No Fraud or Misrepresentation. Each Receivable was sold by the Dealer to the Originator without any fraud or misrepresentation on the part of such Dealer.
(g)
(h)
Origination. Each Receivable was originated in the United States.
(i)
(j)
No Government Obligor. No Obligor is the United States of America or any State or any agency, department, subdivision or instrumentality thereof.
(k)
(l)
(m)
(n)
Adverse Selection. No selection procedures believed by the Transferor to be adverse to the Purchaser or the Noteholders were utilized in selecting the Receivables from those receivables owned by Originators or Transferor eligible for transfer to the Purchaser pursuant to this Agreement.
(o)
(p)
Chattel Paper. Each Receivable constitutes “tangible chattel paper” within the meaning of the relevant UCC. In the case of a Receivable constituting “tangible chattel paper” within the meaning of the relevant UCC, there is no more than one original executed copy of such Receivable, which immediately prior to the delivery thereof to the Master Servicer (as custodian) for the Issuer, was in the possession of the Transferor.
(q)
One Original. There is only one original executed copy of each Receivable.
(r)
(s)
Receivables in Force. As of the Cutoff Date, (i) no Receivable has been satisfied, subordinated or rescinded, and the Vehicle securing each such Receivable has not been released from the lien of the related Receivable in whole or in part; (ii) no provisions of any Receivable have been waived, altered or modified in any respect since its origination, except by instruments or documents identified in the Receivable File; and (iii) no Receivable has been modified as a result of application of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act.
(t)
(u)
Composition of Receivable. No Receivable has a Principal Balance which includes capitalized interest, late charges or amounts attributable to the payment of the premium for any Physical Damage Insurance Policy.
(v)
Security Interest in Vehicle. The applicable Originator has a first priority perfected security interest in all of the Vehicles securing the Receivables originated by the related Originator, which security interest is assignable together with such Receivable, and has been so assigned to the Transferor. There are no Liens affecting a Vehicle which are or may be Liens prior or equal to the lien of the Receivable.
(w)
(x)
All Filings Made. All filings (including, without limitation, UCC filings) required to be made by any Person and actions required to be taken or performed by any Person in any jurisdiction to give the Purchaser a first priority perfected lien on, or ownership interest in, the Receivables and the proceeds thereof have been made, taken or performed.
(y)
(z)
(aa)
No Defenses. As of the Cutoff Date, no Receivable is subject to any right of rescission, setoff, counterclaim or defense and no such right has been asserted or threatened with respect to any Receivable.
(bb)
(cc)
(dd)
Paid-Ahead. As of the Cutoff Date, any amounts paid ahead on the Receivables have been applied to the unpaid principal balance of the Receivables, as reflected in the Schedule of Receivables.
(ee)
(ff)
Underwriting Guidelines. Each Receivable has been originated in accordance with the Originators’ underwriting guidelines.
(gg)
Bulk Transfer Laws. The transfer, assignment and conveyance of the Receivables and the related Receivable Files from the Transferor to the Purchaser are not subject to the bulk transfer or any similar statutory provisions in effect in any applicable jurisdiction.
(hh)
SECTION 3.4.
SECTION 3.5.
(a)
This Agreement creates a valid and continuing security interest (as defined in the applicable UCC) in the Receivables in favor of the Purchaser, which security interest is prior to all other Liens, and is enforceable as such as against creditors of and purchasers from the Transferor.
(b)
The applicable Originator has taken all steps necessary to perfect its security interest against each related Obligor in the Vehicles securing the Receivables.
(c)
The Receivables constitute “tangible chattel paper” within the meaning of the applicable UCC.
(d)
The Transferor owns and has good and marketable title to the Receivables free and clear of any Lien, claim or encumbrance of any Person.
(e)
All original executed copies of each agreement that constitutes or evidences the Receivables have been delivered to the Custodian.
(f)
Other than the security interest granted to the Seller pursuant to this Agreement, the Transferor has not pledged, assigned, sold, granted a security interest in, or otherwise conveyed any of the Receivables. The Transferor has not authorized the filing of and is not aware of any financing statements against the Transferor that include a description of collateral covering the Receivables other than any financing statement relating to the security interest granted to the Purchaser hereunder or that has been terminated. The Transferor is not aware of any judgment or tax lien filings against the Transferor.
(g)
None of the agreements that constitute or evidence the Receivables has any marks or notations indicating that it has been pledged, assigned or otherwise conveyed to any Person other than the Purchaser.
Such representations and warranties shall speak as of the Closing Date, but shall survive the transfer and assignment of the Receivables to Purchaser under this Agreement, the transfer and assignment of the Receivables to the Issuer under the Sale and Servicing Agreement and the pledge thereof to Indenture Trustee pursuant to the Indenture. These representations and warranties are not waivable.
SECTION 4.1.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(i)
the Schedule of Receivables;
(ii)
an Officer’s Certificate of each of the Transferor, WFFA and Master Servicer substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto;
(iii)
opinions of counsel for the Originators, WFFA, the Transferor and the Master Servicer, in the aggregate substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto, addressed to the Purchaser;
(iv)
copies of resolutions of the board of directors of each of the Transferor, WFFA and the Master Servicer approving the execution, delivery and performance of the Basic Documents to which each of the Transferor, WFFA and the Master Servicer is a party, and the performance of the transactions contemplated hereunder and thereunder, certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary;
(v)
copies of the organizational documents of each of the Transferor, WFFA and the Master Servicer, together with all amendments, revisions and supplements thereto, certified by the Secretary of State of the state of its organization as of a recent date, to the effect that the Transferor, WFFA or the Master Servicer, as applicable, has been duly organized, is in good standing and has a legal corporate or limited liability company existence;
(vi)
UCC search reports from the appropriate offices in Minnesota and Pennsylvania as to WFFA, from the appropriate offices in Delaware as to the Transferor and from the appropriate offices in related states as to each of the Originators;
(vii)
a letter from KPMG LLP as to certain financial and statistical information in the Prospectus Supplement, which letter shall be acceptable in form and substance to the Purchaser;
(viii)
each Originator, WFFA and the Transferor shall record and file, at its own expense, on or prior to the Closing Date, a financing statement in each jurisdiction in which such filing is required by applicable law, with each Originator, as debtor and naming WFFA as purchaser or secured party and the Indenture Trustee as assignee, with WFFA, as debtor, and naming the Transferor as purchaser or secured party and the Indenture Trustee as assignee, and with the Transferor, as Transferor or debtor, and naming the Purchaser as purchaser or secured party, and the Indenture Trustee, as assignee, naming the Receivables and the related property described in Section 2.01 (a) as collateral, meeting the requirements of the laws of each such jurisdiction and in such manner as is necessary to perfect the sale, transfer, assignment and conveyance of the Receivables to the Transferor, WFFA or Purchaser, as applicable; and each Originator, WFFA and the Transferor shall deliver a file-stamped copy, or other evidence satisfactory to the Purchaser of such filings, to the Purchaser on the Closing Date;
(ix)
such other documents, certificates and opinions as may be requested by the Purchaser or its counsel.
(d)
(e)
Rating of the Notes. Xxxxx’x, Standard & Poor’s and Fitch, respectively, shall have assigned ratings of (i) “P-1”, “A-1+” and “F1+” to the Class A-1 Notes and (ii) “Aaa”, “AAA” and “AAA” to the Class A-2 Notes, the Class A-3 Notes and the Class A-4 Notes.
(f)
SECTION 4.2.
(a)
(b)
SECTION 4.3.
(a)
a stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued or a proceeding for that purpose shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission;
(b)
subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, there shall have occurred an adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, in the earnings, affairs, regulatory situation or business prospects of an Originator or the Transferor reasonably determined by the Purchaser to be material;
(c)
a downgrading in the rating of any debt securities of the Transferor or any of its Affiliates, if any, by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” (as defined for purposes of Rule 436(g) under the Act) below “A” or its equivalent rating; or
(d)
subsequent to the date of this Agreement there shall have occurred any of the following: (i) any suspension or limitation of trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange or any setting of minimum prices for trading on such exchange, or any suspension of trading of any securities of the Transferor on any exchange or in the over-the-counter market or a suspension or material limitation in trading in securities substantially similar to the Notes; (ii) a material disruption has occurred in securities settlement or clearance services in the United States; (iii) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities in New York declared by either Federal or New York State authorities; or (iv) the engagement by the United States in hostilities, or the escalation of such hostilities, or any calamity or crisis, if the effect of any such event specified in this clause (iv) in the reasonable judgment of the Purchaser makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the Notes on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus Supplement.
ARTICLE V
COVENANTS OF TRANSFEROR
SECTION 5.1.
PROTECTION OF TITLE TO TRANSFEROR ASSETS. Transferor covenants and agrees with Purchaser as follows:
(a)
Transferor shall authorize and file such UCC financing statements and cause to be authorized and filed such UCC continuation statements, all in such manner and in such places as may be required by law fully to preserve, maintain and protect the interest of Purchaser, Owner Trustee and Indenture Trustee in the Receivables and the proceeds thereof. Transferor shall deliver (or cause to be delivered) to Purchaser file-stamped copies of, or filing receipts for, any document filed as provided above, as soon as available following such filing.
(b)
Transferor shall not change its name, identity or corporate structure or jurisdiction of organization in any manner that would, could or might make any financing statement or continuation statement filed in accordance with paragraph (a) above seriously misleading within the meaning of the UCC, unless it shall have given Purchaser, Owner Trustee and Indenture Trustee at least 60 days’ prior written notice thereof and shall have promptly filed appropriate amendments to all previously filed financing statements or continuation statements.
(c)
Transferor shall give Purchaser, Owner Trustee and Indenture Trustee at least 60 days’ prior written notice of any relocation of its principal executive office or change in its jurisdiction or organization, if, as a result of such relocation, the applicable provisions of the UCC would require the filing of any amendment of any previously filed financing or continuation statement or of any new financing statement and shall promptly file any such amendment or new financing statement.
(d)
Transferor shall maintain its computer systems relating to installment loan recordkeeping so that, from and after the time of sale under this Agreement of its Receivables, Transferor’s master computer records (including any backup archives) that refer to a Receivable shall indicate clearly the interest of Purchaser, Issuer and Indenture Trustee in such Receivable and that such Receivable has been sold to Purchaser and by Purchaser to Issuer and is owned by Issuer and has been pledged to Indenture Trustee pursuant to the Indenture. Indication of Purchaser’s, Issuer’s and Indenture Trustee’s interest in a Receivable shall be deleted from or modified on Seller’s computer systems when, and only when, the related Receivable shall have been paid in full or repurchased by Transferor or an Originator or purchased by Master Servicer.
(e)
If at any time Transferor shall propose to sell, grant a security interest in or otherwise transfer any interest in receivables to any prospective purchaser, lender or other transferee, Transferor 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 to Purchaser and then sold by Purchaser to Issuer and pledged to Indenture Trustee.
(f)
Transferor shall, upon receipt of reasonable prior notice, permit Purchaser, Owner Trustee and Indenture Trustee and their respective agents at any time during normal business hours to inspect, audit and make copies of and abstracts from Transferor’s records regarding any Receivable.
(g)
Upon request at any time Purchaser, Owner Trustee or Indenture Trustee shall have reasonable grounds to believe that such request is necessary in connection with the performance of its duties under this Agreement, Transferor shall furnish to Purchaser, Owner Trustee and Indenture Trustee, within thirty (30) Business Days, a list of all Receivables (by contract number and name of Obligor) conveyed to Purchaser hereunder and then owned by Issuer, and pledged to Indenture Trustee, together with a reconciliation of such list to the Schedule of Receivables and to each of Master Servicer’s Reports furnished before such request indicating removal of Receivables from Issuer.
(h)
Transferor shall deliver or cause to be delivered to Purchaser, Owner Trustee and Indenture Trustee:
(1)
promptly after the execution and delivery of this Agreement and of each amendment hereto, an Opinion of Counsel either (A) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all financing statements and continuation statements have been executed and filed that are necessary fully to preserve and protect the interest of Purchaser in the Receivables, and reciting the details of such filings or referring to prior Opinions of Counsel in which such details are given, or (B) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, no such action shall be necessary to preserve and protect such interest; and
(2)
within 120 days after the beginning of each calendar year beginning with the first calendar year beginning more than four months after the Cutoff Date and until there are no Outstanding Notes, an Opinion of Counsel, dated as of a date during such 120-day period, either (A) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all financing statements and continuation statements have been executed and filed that are necessary fully to preserve and protect the interest of Purchaser in the Receivables, and reciting the details of such filings or referring to prior Opinions of Counsel in which such details are given, or (B) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, no such action shall be necessary to preserve and protect such interest.
Each Opinion of Counsel referred to in clause (1) or (2) above shall specify any action necessary (as of the date of such opinion) to be taken in the following year to preserve and protect such interest.
SECTION 5.2.
ARTICLE VI
INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION
SECTION 6.1.
(a)
Each of the Transferor and WFFA agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Purchaser, each of its directors, each of its officers and each person, if any, who controls the Purchaser within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act (collectively referred to for the purposes of this Section 6.1 and 6.2 as the “Purchaser”) against any loss, claim, damage or liability, joint or several, to which the Purchaser may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such loss, claim, damage or liability (or any action in respect thereof) arises out of or is based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any preliminary prospectus supplement, the Prospectus Supplement or the Base Prospectus (in the case of the Base Prospectus, to the extent it describes or purports to describe the Basic Documents) or in any amendment or supplement thereto or (ii) the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading, and shall reimburse the Purchaser for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Purchaser directly in connection with investigating or preparing to defend or defending against or appearing as a third party witness in connection with any such loss, claim, damage or liability (or any action in respect thereof) as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that neither WFFA nor the Transferor shall be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability (or any action in respect thereof) arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement in or omission or alleged omission in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter’s Information; provided, further, that such indemnity with respect to any preliminary prospectus supplement or any amendment or supplement thereto shall not inure to the benefit of the Purchaser from whom the person asserting any such loss, claim, damage or liability purchased the Notes which are the subject thereof (or to the benefit of any person controlling the Purchaser) if at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of such Notes a copy of the Prospectus (or the Prospectus as amended or supplemented) was not sent or delivered to such person and the untrue statement or omission of a material fact contained in such preliminary prospectus supplement was corrected in the Prospectus (or the Prospectus as amended or supplemented) provided that WFFA furnished such Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) to the Purchaser reasonably prior to the delivery of such confirmation.
(b)
The Purchaser shall indemnify and hold harmless each of WFFA and the Transferor, each of its directors, each person, if any, who controls WFFA or the Transferor, as applicable, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act against any loss, claim, damage or liability, joint or several, to which they may become subject, under the Securities Act (collectively referred to solely for the purposes of this Section 6.1 and 6.2 as “WFFA” or the “Transferor”, as applicable) or otherwise, insofar as such loss, claim, damage or liability (or any action in respect thereof) arises out of or is based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any preliminary prospectus supplement or the Prospectus Supplement or in any amendment or supplement thereto but only to the extent that the untrue statement or alleged untrue statement was made in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter’s Information, (ii) the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading, but only to the extent that the omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter’s Information, (iii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Base Prospectus (in the case of the Base Prospectus, to the extent it does not describe or purport to describe the Basic Documents) or in any amendment or supplement thereto or (iv) the omission or alleged omission to state in the Base Prospectus (in the case of the Base Prospectus, to the extent not describing the Basic Documents) a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading.
(c)
Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 6.1 of notice of any claim or the commencement of any action, the indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 6.1, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the claim or the commencement of that action; provided, however, that the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have to an indemnified party otherwise than under this Section 6.1. If any such claim or action shall be brought against an indemnified party, and it shall notify the indemnifying party thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it wishes, jointly with any other similarly notified indemnifying party, to assume the defense thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. After notice from the indemnifying party to the indemnified party of its election to assume the defense of such claim or action, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to the indemnified party under this Section 6.1 for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by the indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation; provided, however, an indemnified party shall have the right to employ its own counsel in any such action, but the fees, expenses and other charges of such counsel for the indemnified party will be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (1) the employment of counsel by the indemnified party has been authorized in writing by the indemnifying party, (2) the indemnified party has reasonably concluded (based upon advice of counsel to the indemnified party) that there may be legal defenses available to it or other indemnified parties that are different from or in addition to those available to the indemnifying party, (3) a conflict or potential conflict exists (based upon advice of counsel to the indemnified party) between the indemnified party and the indemnifying party (in which case the indemnifying party will not have the right to direct the defense of such action on behalf of the indemnified party) or (4) the indemnifying party has not in fact employed counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to assume the defense of such action within a reasonable time after receiving notice of the commencement of the action, in each of which cases the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel will be at the expense of the indemnifying party or parties. It is understood that the indemnifying party or parties shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of more than one separate firm of attorneys (in addition to any local counsel) at any one time for all such indemnified party or parties. Each indemnified party, as a condition of the indemnity agreements contained in Sections 6.1(a) and 6.1(b), shall use all reasonable efforts to cooperate with the indemnifying party in the defense of any such action or claim. No indemnifying party shall be liable for any settlement of any such action effected without its written consent, but if settled with its written consent or if there be a final judgment of the plaintiff in any such action, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify and hold harmless any indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened action in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party unless such settlement (i) includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on any claims that are the subject of such action and (ii) does not include a statement as to, or an admission of, fault, culpability or failure to act by or on behalf of an indemnified party.
SECTION 6.2.
Each of WFFA and the Transferor and the Purchaser agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this Section 6.2 were to be determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Purchaser were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to herein. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the loss, claim, damage or liability referred to above in this Section 6.2 shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations on the fees and expenses of separate counsel set forth in Section 6.1, for purposes of this Section 6.2, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such claim or any action in respect thereof. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 6.2, the Purchaser shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Notes underwritten by the Underwriters and distributed to the public were offered to the public less the amount of any damages which the Purchaser has otherwise paid or become liable to pay by reason of any untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
ARTICLE VII
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
SECTION 7.1.
SECTION 7.2.
SECTION 7.3.
SUBSEQUENT TRANSFER TO ISSUER AND INDENTURE TRUSTEE. Transferor acknowledges that:
(a)
Purchaser will, pursuant to the Sale and Servicing Agreement, sell the Receivables to Issuer and assign its rights under this Agreement to the Issuer for the benefit of the Noteholders and the Certificateholders, and that the representations and warranties contained in this Agreement and the rights of Purchaser under Section 3.4 hereof are intended to benefit Issuer, the Owner Trustee, the Noteholders and the Certificateholders. Transferor hereby consents to such sale and assignment.
(b)
Issuer will, pursuant to the Indenture, pledge the Receivables and its rights under this Agreement to the Indenture Trustee for the benefit of the Noteholders, and that the representations and warranties contained in this Agreement and the rights of Purchaser under this Agreement, including under Section 3.4 are intended to benefit the Indenture Trustee and the Noteholders. Transferor hereby consents to such pledge.
SECTION 7.4.
(b)
Any term or provision of this Agreement may be amended by the Transferor and the Purchaser, but without the consent of the Indenture Trustee, any Noteholder or Certificateholder, the Owner Trustee or any other Person to add, modify or eliminate any provisions as may be necessary or advisable in order to enable the Seller, the Master Servicer or any of their Affiliates to comply with or obtain more favorable treatment under any law or regulation or any accounting rule or principle, it being a condition to any such amendment that the Rating Agency Condition shall have been satisfied.
(c)
This Agreement may also be amended from time to time by Transferor and Purchaser, with the consent of the Master Servicer, Owner Trustee and Indenture Trustee, the consent of the Holders of Notes evidencing not less than a majority of the Outstanding Amount of the Notes and the consent of the Holders of Certificates evidencing not less than a majority of the Certificate Balance for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Agreement; provided that no such amendment shall (i) reduce the interest rate or principal amount of any Note or delay any Payment Date or Final Scheduled Payment Date of any Note or (ii) reduce the aforesaid percentage of the Outstanding Amount of the Notes and the Certificate Balance, the Holders of which are required to consent to any such amendment, without the consent of the Holders of all the outstanding Notes of each Class affected thereby and the Holders of all the outstanding Certificates.
(d)
Prior to the execution of any amendment or consent under this Section 7.4, Purchaser shall furnish written notification of the substance of such amendment or consent to each Rating Agency, Owner Trustee and Indenture Trustee. Promptly after the execution of any amendment or consent pursuant to Subsection (c) above, Purchaser shall furnish written notification the substance of such amendment or consent to each Noteholder, Certificateholder, Owner Trustee and Indenture Trustee.
(e)
It shall not be necessary for the consent of Certificateholders or Noteholders pursuant to this Section to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment or consent, but it shall be sufficient if such consent shall approve the substance thereof.
(f)
Prior to the execution of any amendment to this Agreement, Purchaser, Owner Trustee and Indenture Trustee shall be entitled to receive and rely conclusively upon an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such amendment is authorized or permitted by this Agreement and that all conditions precedent to the execution and delivery of such amendment have been satisfied and the Opinion of Counsel referred to in Section 5.1(h)(1) has been delivered. Purchaser, Owner Trustee and Indenture Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such amendment which affects Purchaser’s, Owner Trustee’s or Indenture Trustee’s, as applicable, own rights, duties or immunities under this Agreement or otherwise.
SECTION 7.5.
SECTION 7.6.
SECTION 7.7.
SECTION 7.8.
REPRESENTATIONS TO TRANSFEROR. The respective agreements, representations, warranties and other statements by Transferor and Purchaser set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and will survive the Closing Date and any sale, transfer or assignment of the Receivables by Purchaser.
SECTION 7.9.
GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, INCLUDING SECTION 5-1401 OF THE GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW, BUT OTHERWISE WITHOUT REFERENCE TO ITS CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISIONS, AND THE OBLIGATIONS, RIGHTS AND REMEDIES OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE DETERMINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUCH LAWS.
SECTION 7.10.
SECTION 7.11.
THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES. Each of the Issuer, Owner Trustee (individually and in its capacity as such), Indenture Trustee (individually and in its capacity as such) and the Underwriters is an intended third party beneficiary of this Agreement.
It is acknowledged and agreed that the provisions of this Agreement may be enforced by or on behalf of such Persons to the same extent as if it were a party hereto.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereby have caused this Purchase Agreement to be executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized as of the date and year first above written.
XXXXX FARGO FINANCIAL RECEIVABLES, LLC
By:
/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Title: Treasurer
ACE SECURITIES CORP.
By:
/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Title: President
Acknowledged and agreed with
respect to Article VI of the Purchase Agreement:
XXXXX FARGO FINANCIAL ACCEPTANCE, INC.
By:/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Title: Treasurer