Underwriting Agreement
Exhibit 1.1
$1,000,000,000 NISSAN MASTER OWNER TRUST RECEIVABLES,
SERIES 2007-A NOTES
May 23, 2007
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated
As Representative of the
Several Underwriters (the “Representative”)
0000 Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
As Representative of the
Several Underwriters (the “Representative”)
0000 Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Dear Sirs:
1. Introductory. Nissan Master Owner Trust Receivables (the “Trust”), a Delaware
statutory trust, proposes to sell $1,000,000,000 principal amount of Nissan Master Owner Trust
Receivables, Series 2007-A Notes (the “Notes”), issued by the Trust. The Trust was formed pursuant
to a trust agreement, dated as of May 13, 2003, between Nissan Wholesale Receivables Corporation II
(the “Depositor”) and Wilmington Trust Company, as owner trustee (the “Owner Trustee”), as amended
and restated by the amended and restated trust agreement, dated as of October 15, 2003 (as amended
and restated, the “Trust Agreement”), between the parties thereto. The Notes will be issued
pursuant to a supplement, dated as of May 30, 2007 (the “Indenture Supplement”), to an amended and
restated indenture, dated as of October 15, 2003 (together with the Indenture Supplement, the
“Indenture”), between the Trust and The Bank of New York (as successor-in-interest to the corporate
trust business of JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association), as indenture trustee (the “Indenture
Trustee”), and will be governed by the terms of an amended and restated transfer and servicing
agreement, dated as of October 15, 2003 (the “Transfer and Servicing Agreement”), among the
Depositor, Nissan Motor Acceptance Corporation (“NMAC”), as servicer (the “Servicer”), and the
Trust.
Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings given
them in the Indenture and the Annex of Definitions attached to the Indenture.
2. Representations and Warranties of the Trust, the Depositor and NMAC. Each of the
Trust, the Depositor and NMAC, jointly and severally, represents and warrants to and agrees with
the several underwriters named in Schedule 1 hereto (the “Underwriters”) that:
(a) A registration statement (No. 333-139682) and Amendment No. 1 thereto, including a
form of prospectus supplement relating to the Notes and a form of base
prospectus relating to each class of notes to be registered under such registration
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statement (the “Registered Notes”), has been filed on Form S-3 with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) and either (i) has been declared effective under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), and is not proposed to be amended or (ii) is
proposed to be amended by amendment or post-effective amendment. If such registration
statement (the “initial registration statement”) has been declared effective, either (i) any
additional registration statement (the “additional registration statement”) relating to the
Notes has been filed with the Commission pursuant to rule 462(b) (“Rule 462(b)”) under the
Act and declared effective upon filing, and the Notes have been registered under the Act
pursuant to the initial registration statement and such additional registration statement or
(ii) any such additional registration statement proposed to be filed with the Commission
pursuant to Rule 462(b) will become effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) and upon
such filing the Notes will have been duly registered under the Act pursuant to the initial
registration statement and such additional registration statement. If the Depositor does
not propose to amend the initial registration statement, any such additional registration
statement or any post-effective amendment to either such registration statement filed with
the Commission prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, then the most recent
amendment (if any) to each such registration statement has been declared effective by the
Commission or has become effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Act (“Rule
462(c)”) or Rule 462(b).
(b) For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Effective Time” with respect to the
initial registration statement or, if filed prior to the execution and delivery of this
Agreement, the additional registration statement means (i) if the Depositor has advised the
Representative that it does not propose to amend such registration statement, the date and
time as of which such registration statement, or the most recent post-effective amendment
thereto (if any) filed prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, was declared
effective by the Commission or has become effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(c) or
(ii) if the Depositor has advised the Representative that it proposes to file an amendment
or post-effective amendment to such registration statement, the date and time as of which
such registration statement as amended by such amendment or post-effective amendment, as the
case may be, is declared effective by the Commission. If the Depositor has advised the
Representative that it proposes to file, but has not filed, an additional registration
statement, the term “Effective Time” with respect to such additional registration statement
means the date and time as of which such registration statement is filed and becomes
effective pursuant to Rule 462(b).
(c) The initial registration statement and all amendments and supplements thereto, as
amended at its time of effectiveness, including all information (i) contained in the
additional registration statement (if any), (ii) deemed to be a part of the initial
registration statement as of the time of effectiveness of the additional registration
statement (if any) pursuant to the General Instructions of the Form on which it is filed and
(iii) deemed to be a part of the initial registration statement as of its time of
effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430A(b) under the Act (“Rule 430A(b)”), is hereinafter
referred to as the “Initial Registration Statement.” The additional registration statement
and all amendments and supplements thereto, as amended at its time of effectiveness,
including the contents of the initial registration statement incorporated by reference
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therein and deemed to be a part of the additional registration statement as of its Effective
Time pursuant to Rule 430A(b), is hereinafter referred to as the “Additional Registration
Statement.” The Initial Registration Statement, the Additional Registration Statement, and
all Incorporated Documents (as defined below), are hereinafter referred to collectively as
the “Registration Statements” and individually as a “Registration Statement.” As used
herein, the term “Incorporated Documents”, when used with respect to the Registration
Statement as of any date, means the documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by
reference in the Registration Statement (i) as of such date pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3
or pursuant to a no-action letter of the Commission or (ii) as of any other date pursuant to
Rule 430B(f) under the Act. A preliminary prospectus supplement, dated May 22, 2007,
relating to the Notes (the “Preliminary Prospectus Supplement”) and accompanied by the base
prospectus dated May 22, 2007, relating to the Registered Notes (including the Notes) (the
“Base Prospectus”), will be filed with the Commission in connection with the offering and
sale of the Notes pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 424(b) under the Act (“Rule
424(b)”) within the time period required thereby (together, including all material
incorporated by reference therein, the “Preliminary Prospectus”). A final prospectus
supplement, dated May 23, 2007, relating to the Notes (the “Prospectus Supplement”), and
accompanied by the Base Prospectus will be filed with the Commission in connection with the
offering and sale of the Notes pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 424(b) within the
time period required thereby (together, including all material incorporated by reference
therein, the “Final Prospectus”). As used herein, and for the sake of clarity, each of the
term “Preliminary Prospectus” and “Final Prospectus” includes all static pool information
disclosed therein in response to Item 1105 of Regulation AB (including, without limitation,
the information disclosed in the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement and the Prospectus
Supplement), whether or not such information is otherwise deemed to be part of the
Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus under the Rules and Regulations.
(d) (i) (A) On the effective date of any Registration Statement whose time of
effectiveness is prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, each such
Registration Statement conformed, (B) on the date of this Agreement, each such Registration
Statement conforms and (C) on any related effective date of the Registration Statement,
subsequent to the date of this Agreement and on the Series 2007-A Issuance Date, each such
Registration Statement will conform, in all respects to the requirements of the Act and the
rules and regulations of the Commission (the “Rules and Regulations”) and the Trust
Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “1939 Act”), and at such times each such Registration
Statement, as amended, did not and will not include any untrue statement of a material fact
or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading. (ii) As of 10:28 a..m. (New York time) May 23, 2007 (the
“Date of Sale”), which shall be the date of the first contract of sale for the Notes, and at
the time of filing of the Preliminary Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) or, if no such
filing is required, at the effective date of the Additional Registration Statement that
includes the Preliminary Prospectus), the Preliminary Prospectus, together with the
statements in the Final Prospectus with respect to items identified in the Preliminary
Prospectus as to be completed in the Final Prospectus, did not include, does not include and
will not include, any untrue statement of a material fact,
nor did, does or will the Preliminary Prospectus, together with the statements in the
Final
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Prospectus with respect to items identified in the Preliminary Prospectus as to be
completed in the Final Prospectus, omit to state any material fact necessary in order to
make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading. As of the date of the first use of the Final Prospectus, at the time of filing
of the Final Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) (or if no such filing is required, at the
effective date of the Additional Registration Statement that includes the Final Prospectus),
on the date of this Agreement and at the Series 2007-A Issuance Date, the Final Prospectus,
as amended and supplemented as of such dates, will conform, in all respects to the
requirements of the Act and the Rules and Regulations, and does not include, and will not
include, any untrue statement of a material fact, nor did, does or will the Final
Prospectus, as amended and supplemented as of such dates, omit to state any material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light
of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The three preceding
sentences do not apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement, the
Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus based upon written information furnished to
the Depositor by any Underwriter through the Representative specifically for use therein or
to that part of the Registration Statement which constitutes the Statement of Qualification
under the 1939 Act on Form T-1 (the “Form T-1”) of the Indenture Trustee (which will be
represented and warranted to by the Indenture Trustee). If the time of effectiveness of the
Registration Statement is subsequent to the date of this Agreement, no Additional
Registration Statement has been or will be filed. The Indenture has been qualified under
the 1939 Act.
(e) The Depositor has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation
in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware with corporate power and authority
to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the Preliminary Prospectus
and the Final Prospectus, as amended and supplemented, and is duly qualified to transact
business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business
or the ownership of its property requires such qualification, except where the failure to be
in good standing would not have a material adverse effect on the Depositor’s ability to
perform its obligations under this Agreement, the Trust Agreement, the Transfer and
Servicing Agreement, the Indenture, or the amended and restated receivables purchase
agreement, dated as of October 15, 2003, between NMAC and the Depositor (the “Receivables
Purchase Agreement”). The Depositor is not, and on the date on which the first bona fide
offer of the Notes was made, was not, an “ineligible issuer” as defined in Rule 405 of the
Rules and Regulations.
(f) The Trust has been duly formed and is validly existing as a statutory trust and is
in good standing under the laws of the state of Delaware, with full power and authority to
own its properties and conduct its business as described in the Preliminary Prospectus and
Final Prospectus, as amended and supplemented, and is duly qualified to transact business
and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or the
ownership of its property requires such qualification, except where the failure to qualify
to transact business or be in good standing would not have a material adverse effect on the
Trust’s ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement, the
Trust Agreement, the Transfer and Servicing Agreement, the Indenture or the Receivables
Purchase Agreement.
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(g) NMAC has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good
standing under the laws of the State of California with corporate power and authority to own
its properties and conduct its business as described in the Preliminary Prospectus and the
Final Prospectus, as amended and supplemented, and is duly qualified to transact business
and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or the
ownership of its property requires such qualification, except where the failure to be in
good standing would not have a material adverse effect on the NMAC’s ability to perform its
obligations under (i) the amended and restated administration agreement, dated as of October
15, 2003 (the “Administration Agreement” and, together with this Agreement, the Trust
Agreement, the Transfer and Servicing Agreement, the Indenture and the Receivables Purchase
Agreement, the “Basic Documents”), among the Trust, NMAC, as administrator, the Owner
Trustee and the Indenture Trustee, and (ii) each other Basic Document to which it is a
party.
(h) The consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Basic Documents, and the
fulfillment of the terms thereof, will not conflict with or result in a breach of any of the
terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation of any
lien, charge, or encumbrance upon any of the property or assets of the Trust, the Depositor
or NMAC pursuant to the terms of, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement,
guarantee, lease financing agreement, or similar agreement or instrument under which any of
the Trust, the Depositor or NMAC is a debtor or guarantor, except where such conflict,
breach, default or creation would not have a material adverse effect on the Trust’s, the
Depositor’s or NMAC’s respective ability to perform its obligations under the Basic
Documents or the validity or enforceability thereof.
(i) No consent, approval, authorization or order of, or filing with, any court or
governmental agency or body is required to be obtained or made by any of the Trust, the
Depositor or NMAC for the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Basic
Documents except such as have been obtained and made under the Act, such as may be required
under state securities laws and the filing of any financing statements required to perfect
the Trust’s interest in the Receivables.
(j) None of the Trust, the Depositor or NMAC is in violation of its trust agreement,
certificate of incorporation or articles of incorporation, as applicable, or by-laws or in
default in the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition
contained in any agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or its
properties are bound which would have a material adverse effect on the transactions
contemplated in the Basic Documents or on the Trust’s, the Depositor’s or NMAC’s respective
ability to perform its obligations under each Basic Document to which it is a party. The
execution, delivery and performance of the Basic Documents and the issuance and sale of the
Notes and compliance with the terms and provisions thereof will not, subject to obtaining
any consents or approvals as may be required under the securities or “blue sky” laws of
various jurisdictions: (i) result in a breach or violation of
any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default under, any statute, rule,
regulation or order of any governmental agency or body or any court having jurisdiction over
the Trust, the Depositor or NMAC or their respective properties or any agreement or
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instrument to which any of the Trust, the Depositor or NMAC is a party or by which any of
the Trust, the Depositor or NMAC is bound or to which any of their respective properties are
subject, except where such breach, violation, or default would not have a material adverse
effect on the Trust’s, the Depositor’s or NMAC’s respective ability to perform its
obligations under each Basic Document to which it is a party or the validity or
enforceability thereof, or (ii) conflict with the Trust’s, the Depositor’s or NMAC’s charter
or by-laws, and each of the Trust, the Depositor and NMAC has the requisite power and
authority to enter into each Basic Document to which it is a party and to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.
(k) Each Basic Document to which the Trust, the Depositor or NMAC, respectively, is a
party has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by, and (assuming the due
authorization and delivery thereof by the other parties hereto and thereto) constitutes the
valid and binding obligation of such party, enforceable against such party in accordance
with its respective terms, except as limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or
other similar laws relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally
and by general equitable principles, regardless of whether such enforceability is considered
in a proceeding in equity or at law.
(l) The Notes have been duly authorized and, when executed and delivered in accordance
with the Indenture and delivered against payment therefor pursuant to this Agreement, will
be valid and binding obligations of the Trust, enforceable against the Trust in accordance
with their respective terms, except as limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or
other similar laws relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally
and by general equitable principles, regardless of whether such enforceability is considered
in a proceeding in equity or at law.
(m) There are no legal or governmental proceedings known by the Trust, the Depositor or
NMAC to be (i) pending for which the Trust, the Depositor or NMAC has been served official
notice, to which the Trust, the Depositor or NMAC is a party or to which any property of the
Trust, the Depositor or NMAC is subject, or (ii) threatened or contemplated by any
governmental authority or threatened by others, which proceedings in either clause (i) or
(ii) above, (A) (whether individually or in the aggregate) are required to be disclosed in
the Registration Statement or (B)(1) assert the invalidity of all or part of any Basic
Document, (2) seek to prevent the issuance of the Notes, (3) (whether individually or in the
aggregate) would materially and adversely affect the Trust’s, the Depositor’s or NMAC’s
obligations under any Basic Document to which it is a party, or (4) (whether individually or
in the aggregate) seek to affect adversely the federal or state income tax attributes of the
Notes.
(n) Any taxes, fees and other governmental charges that have been assessed and are
known to the Depositor to be due in connection with the execution, delivery and issuance of
the Basic Documents shall have been paid by the Trust, the Depositor or NMAC at or prior to
the Series 2007-A Issuance Date.
(o) Each of the Trust, the Depositor and NMAC possesses all material licenses,
certificates, authorizations or permits issued by the appropriate state, federal or
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foreign
regulatory agencies or bodies, the absence of which would have a material adverse effect on
the ability of the Trust, the Depositor or NMAC, respectively, to perform its duties under
each Basic Document to which it is a party, and none of the Trust, the Depositor or NMAC has
received notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such
license, certificate, authorization or permit which, individually or in the aggregate, if
the subject of any unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would materially and adversely
affect the ability of the Trust, the Depositor or NMAC to perform its obligations under each
Basic Document to which it is a party.
(p) As of the Series 2007-A Issuance Date, each of the Excess Funding Account, the
Reserve Account, the Collection Account and the Accumulation Account will be subject to a
first-priority security interest in favor of the Indenture Trustee for the benefit of the
Noteholders.
(q) As of the Series 2007-A Issuance Date, the Trust (for the benefit of the
Noteholders) will have good title, free and clear of all prior liens, charges and
encumbrances (other than liens permitted under the Basic Documents), to the Receivables and
such other items comprising the corpus of the Trust transferred to the Trust pursuant to the
Transfer and Servicing Agreement.
(r) As of the Series 2007-A Issuance Date, the Notes and each Basic Document will
conform in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Registration
Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Final Prospectus, as then amended and
supplemented.
(s) Deloitte & Touche LLP are independent public accountants with respect to the
Depositor within the meaning of the Act and the Rules and Regulations.
(t) Neither the Trust nor the Depositor is required to be registered as an “investment
company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”).
(u) The representations and warranties of each of the Depositor, the Trust and NMAC in
each Basic Document to which it is a party, as applicable, are true and correct in all
material respects.
(v) Other than the Preliminary Prospectus and the Final Prospectus, none of the Trust,
the Depositor or NMAC (including their respective agents and representatives other than the
Underwriters in their capacity as such) has made, used, prepared, authorized or approved or
referred to and will not prepare, make, use, authorize, approve or refer to any “written
communication” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Act) that constitutes an offer to sell or
solicitation of an offer to buy the Notes.
(w) None of the Trust, the Depositor or NMAC knows of any contract or other document of
a character required to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement or required to
be described in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the
Final Prospectus, as then amended and supplemented, which is not filed or described as
required.
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3. Purchase, Sale and Delivery of Notes.
(a) On the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements herein contained,
but subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Trust agrees to sell to the
Underwriters, and the Underwriters agree, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the
Trust, the aggregate principal amounts of the Notes set forth opposite the names of the
Underwriters in Schedule 1 hereto.
(b) The Notes are to be purchased by the Underwriters at a purchase price equal to
99.865% of the aggregate principal amount thereof.
(c) Against payment of the purchase price by wire transfer of immediately available
funds to the Trust, the Trust will deliver the Notes to the Representative of the
Underwriters at the office of Mayer, Brown, Xxxx & Maw LLP, at 000 Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx, on May 30, 2007, at 10:00 a.m., New York time, or at such other time
not later than seven full business days thereafter as the Representative, the Depositor and
the Trust determine, such time being herein referred to as the “Series 2007-A Issuance
Date.” The Notes to be so delivered will be initially represented by one or more securities
registered in the name of Cede & Co., the nominee of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”).
The interests of beneficial owners of the Notes will be represented by book entries on the
records of DTC and participating members thereof. Definitive securities will be available
only under the limited circumstances set forth in the Indenture.
4. Offering by Underwriters. It is understood that the several Underwriters propose
to offer the Notes for sale to the public as set forth in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Final
Prospectus.
5. Covenants of the Depositor and the Trust. Each of the Depositor and the Trust, as
applicable, covenants and agrees with the several Underwriters that:
(a) If the time of effectiveness is prior to the execution and delivery of this
Agreement, each of the Depositor and the Trust will file the Preliminary Prospectus and the
Final Prospectus with the Commission pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 424(b) within
the prescribed time period and will provide evidence satisfactory to the Representative of
such timely filing. If the time of effectiveness of the Initial Registration Statement is
prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement and an Additional Registration
Statement is necessary to register a portion of the Notes under the Act but the time of
effectiveness thereof has not occurred as of such execution and delivery, the Depositor will
file the Additional Registration Statement or a post-effective amendment thereto, as the
case may be, with the Commission pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 462(b). The
Depositor will advise the Representative promptly of any such filing pursuant to Rule 424(b)
or Rule 462(b), as applicable.
(b) The Depositor will advise the Representative promptly of any proposal to amend or
supplement the registration statement as filed or the related prospectus or the Registration
Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus, and will not
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effect such
amendment or supplementation without the Representative’s consent; and the Depositor will
also advise the Representative promptly of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement
(if the time of effectiveness of the Registration Statement is subsequent to the execution
and delivery of this Agreement) and of any amendment or supplementation of the Registration
Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus and of the institution by the
Commission of any stop order proceedings in respect of the Registration Statement and will
use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such stop order and to lift such stop
order as soon as possible, if issued.
(c) The Depositor will arrange for the qualification of the Notes for offering and sale
under the securities laws of such jurisdictions in the United States as the Representative
may reasonably designate and to continue such qualifications in effect so long as necessary
under such laws for the distribution of such securities; provided that in connection
therewith the Depositor shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation to do
business, or to file a general consent to service of process, in any jurisdiction.
(d) If, at any time when the delivery of a prospectus shall be required by law in
connection with sales of any Notes (including delivery as contemplated by Rule 172 under the
Act), either (i) any event shall have occurred as a result of which the Preliminary
Prospectus or the Final Prospectus, as then amended and supplemented, would include any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to
make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading, or (ii) for any other reason it shall be necessary to amend or supplement
the Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus, the Depositor will promptly notify the
Representative and will promptly prepare for review by the Representative and file with the
Commission an amendment or a supplement to the Preliminary Prospectus or the Final
Prospectus which will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance. Neither
your consent to, nor the Underwriters’ delivery of, any such amendment or supplement shall
constitute a waiver of any of the conditions set forth in Section 6 of this Agreement.
(e) The Depositor will cause the Trust to make generally available to Holders as soon
as practicable, but not later than fourteen months after the effective date of the
Registration Statement, an earnings statement of the Trust covering a period of at least
twelve consecutive months beginning after such effective date and satisfying the provisions
of Section 11(a) of the Act (including Rule 158 promulgated thereunder).
(f) The Depositor will furnish to the Representative copies of the Registration
Statement (which will include all exhibits), the Preliminary Prospectus, the Final
Prospectus and all amendments and supplements to such documents, in each case as soon as
available and in such quantities as the Representative may from time to time reasonably
request.
(g) So long as any of the Notes are outstanding, the Depositor will furnish to the
Representative copies of all reports or other communications (financial or otherwise)
furnished to Holders, and deliver to the Representative during such same period (i) as
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soon
as they are available, copies of any reports and financial statements furnished to or filed
with the Commission and (ii) such additional information concerning the business and
financial condition of each of the Depositor and the Trust as the Representative may from
time to time reasonably request.
(h) The Depositor will pay or cause to be paid all expenses incident to the performance
of its obligations under this Agreement, including (i) the printing (or otherwise
reproducing) and filing of the Registration Statement as originally filed and of each
amendment thereto; (ii) the preparation, issuance and delivery of the Notes to the
Underwriters; (iii) the fees and disbursements of the Depositor’s and NMAC’s counsel and
accountants; (iv) the fees of DTC in connection with the book-entry registration of the
Notes; (v) the qualification of the Notes under state securities law in accordance with the
provisions of Section 5(c) hereof, including filing fees and the fees and disbursements of
counsel for the Underwriters in connection therewith and in connection with the preparation
of the blue sky survey, if required; (vi) the printing (or otherwise reproducing) and
delivery to the Underwriters of copies of the Preliminary Prospectus and the Final
Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto; (vii) the reproducing and delivery to
the Underwriters of copies of the blue sky survey; and (viii) the fees charged by Xxxxx’x
Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) and Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of
The XxXxxx-Xxxx Companies, Inc. (“S&P”), for rating the Notes. The Underwriters shall not
be responsible for the fees and disbursements of any of the Owner Trustee, the Indenture
Trustee or their respective counsel.
(i) Until the retirement of the Notes, or until such time as the Underwriters shall
cease to maintain a secondary market in the Notes, whichever occurs first, the Depositor
will deliver to the Underwriters the annual statements of compliance and the annual
independent certified public accountants’ reports furnished to the Indenture Trustee
pursuant to Article III of the Transfer and Servicing Agreement, as soon as such statements
and reports are furnished to the Indenture Trustee and the Owner Trustee.
(j) On or prior to the Series 2007-A Issuance Date, the Depositor shall cause or have
caused its and NMAC’s computer records relating to the Receivables to be marked to show the
Trust’s absolute ownership of the Receivables, and from and after the Series 2007-A Issuance
Date neither the Depositor nor NMAC shall take any action inconsistent with the Trust’s
ownership of such Receivables, other than as permitted by the Transfer and Servicing
Agreement.
(k) To the extent, if any, that the ratings provided with respect to the Notes by
either Moody’s or S&P is conditional upon the furnishing of documents or the taking of any
other actions by the Depositor, the Depositor shall furnish, and shall cause NMAC to
furnish, such documents and take any such other actions.
6. Covenant of the Underwriters. Each of the Underwriters severally, and not jointly,
covenants and agrees with the Depositor that other than the Preliminary Prospectus and
the Final Prospectus, without NMAC’s prior written approval, such Underwriter has not made,
used, prepared, authorized, approved or referred to and will not prepare, make, use, authorize,
approve or refer to any “written communication” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Act) relating
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to the offer and sale of the Notes that would constitute a “prospectus” or a “free writing
prospectus,” each as defined in the Act or the Rules and Regulations thereunder, including, but not
limited to any “ABS informational and computational materials” as defined in Item 1101(a) of
Regulation AB under the Act; provided, however, that (i) each Underwriter may
prepare and convey one or more “written communications” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Act)
containing no more than the following: (A) information contemplated by Rule 134 under the Act and
included or to be included in the Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus, including but not
limited to, information relating to the class, size, weighted average life, rating, expected final
payment date, legal maturity date, and/or the final price of the Notes, as well as a column or
other entry showing the status of the subscriptions for the Notes and/or expected pricing
parameters of the Notes, and (B) information customarily included in confirmations of sales of
securities and notices of allocations (each such written communication, an “Underwriter Free
Writing Prospectus”); and (ii) unless otherwise consented to by the Depositor or NMAC, no such
Underwriter Free Writing Prospectus shall be conveyed in a manner reasonably designed to lead to
its broad unrestricted dissemination such that, as a result of such conveyance, the Depositor or
NMAC shall be required to make any filing of such Underwriter Free Writing Prospectus pursuant to
Rule 433(d) under the Act.
7. Conditions of the Obligations of the Underwriters. The obligations of the several
Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Notes will be subject to the accuracy of the
representations and warranties on the part of each of the Trust, the Depositor and NMAC herein on
the date hereof and at the Series 2007-A Issuance Date, to the accuracy of the statements of
officers of the Trust, the Depositor and NMAC made pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the
performance by the Trust, the Depositor and NMAC of their respective obligations hereunder and to
the following additional conditions precedent:
(a) At the time this Agreement is executed and delivered by the Depositor and at the
Series 2007-A Issuance Date, Deloitte & Touche LLP shall have furnished to the
Representative letters dated respectively as of the date of this Agreement and as of the
Series 2007-A Issuance Date substantially in the forms of the drafts to which the
Representative previously agreed.
(b) If the time of effectiveness of the Initial Registration Statement is not prior to
the execution and delivery of this Agreement, such time of effectiveness shall have occurred
not later than 10:00 p.m., New York time, on the date of this Agreement or such later date
as shall have been consented to by the Representative. If the time of effectiveness of the
Initial Registration Statement is prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the
Preliminary Prospectus and the Final Prospectus and all amendments and supplements thereto
shall have been filed with the Commission in accordance with the Rules and Regulations and
Section 5(a) of this Agreement. If the time of effectiveness of the Additional Registration
Statement (if any) is not prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, such time
of effectiveness shall have occurred not later than 10:00 p.m., New York time, on the date
of this Agreement or, if earlier, the time the Final Prospectus is printed and distributed
to any Underwriter, or shall have
occurred at such later date as shall have been consented to by the Representative.
Prior to the Series 2007-A Issuance Date, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall
11
have been instituted or, to the knowledge of the Depositor, shall be contemplated by the
Commission.
(c) The Underwriters shall have received an officers’ certificate, dated the Series
2007-A Issuance Date, signed by the Chairman of the Board, the President or any Vice
President and by a principal financial or accounting officer of the Depositor representing
and warranting that, to the best of such officers’ knowledge after reasonable investigation,
as of the Series 2007-A Issuance Date:
(i) Each of the representations and warranties of the Depositor in this
Agreement is true and correct in all material respects, that the Depositor has
complied with all agreements and satisfied in all material respects all conditions
on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to the Series 2007-A
Issuance Date, that no stop order suspending the effectiveness of any Registration
Statement has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted
or, to the best of their knowledge, are contemplated by the Commission.
(ii) Except as otherwise set forth therein, there has been no material adverse
change, since the respective dates as of which information is given in the
Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus (as then amended and supplemented),
in the condition, financial or otherwise, earnings or business affairs, whether or
not arising out of the ordinary course of business, of the Depositor or any of its
affiliates (as such term is defined in Rule 501(b) under the Act) (each, an
“Affiliate”), or in the ability of such entity to perform its obligations under each
Basic Document to which it is a party or by which it may be bound. Except as
otherwise indicated by the context, all references to the terms “material” in this
Agreement that refer to the Depositor or its Affiliates, or any of them, shall be
interpreted in proportion to the business of NMAC and its consolidated subsidiaries,
as a whole, and not in proportion to the business of the Depositor or its
Affiliate(s) individually.
(d) The Underwriters shall have received an officers’ certificate, dated the Series
2007-A Issuance Date, signed by the Chairman of the Board, the President or any Vice
President and by a principal financial or accounting officer of NMAC representing and
warranting that, to the best of such officers’ knowledge after reasonable investigation, as
of the Series 2007-A Issuance Date:
(i) Each of the representations and warranties of NMAC in this Agreement is
true and correct in all material respects, that NMAC has complied with all
agreements and satisfied, in all material respects, all conditions on its part to be
performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to the Series 2007-A Issuance Date,
that no stop order suspending the effectiveness of any Registration Statement has
been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or, to the best
of their knowledge, are contemplated by the Commission.
(ii) Except as otherwise set forth therein, there has been no material adverse
change, since the respective dates as of which information is given in the
12
Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus (as then amended or supplemented), in
the condition, financial or otherwise, earnings or business affairs, whether or not
arising out of the ordinary course of business, of NMAC or any of its Affiliates, or
the ability of such entity to perform its obligations under each Basic Document to
which it is a party or by which it may be bound. Except as otherwise indicated by
the context, all references to the terms “material” in this Agreement that refer to
NMAC or its Affiliates, or any of them, shall be interpreted in proportion to the
business of NMAC and its consolidated subsidiaries, as a whole, and not in
proportion to the business of NMAC or its Affiliate(s) individually.
(e) Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, there shall not have
occurred (i) any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in or affecting
particularly the business or properties of the Trust, the Depositor, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.,
Nissan North America Inc. (“NNA”) or NMAC which, in the judgment of the Representative,
materially impairs the investment quality of the Notes or makes it impractical or
inadvisable to proceed with completion of the sale of and payment for the Notes; (ii) any
downgrading in the rating of any debt securities of NNA or any of its direct or indirect
subsidiaries by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” (as defined for
purposes of Rule 436(g) under the Act), or any public announcement that any such
organization has under surveillance or review its rating of any such debt securities (other
than an announcement with positive implications of a possible upgrading, and no implication
of a possible downgrading, of such rating); (iii) 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; (iv) any material disruption in commercial banking, securities
entitlement or clearance services in the United States; (v) any banking moratorium declared
by federal or New York authorities; or (vi) any outbreak or escalation of major hostilities
in which the United States is involved, any declaration of war by Congress or any other
substantial national or international calamity or emergency if, in the judgment of the
Representative, the effect of any such outbreak, escalation, declaration, calamity or
emergency makes it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with completion of the sale of and
payment for the Notes.
(f) Xxxx X. Xxxx, Esq., General Counsel of the Depositor and NMAC, or other counsel
satisfactory to the Representative in its reasonable judgment, shall have furnished to the
Representative such counsel’s written opinion, dated the Series 2007-A Issuance Date, in
substantially the form set forth below, with such changes therein as counsel for the
Underwriters shall reasonably agree:
(i) NMAC has the corporate power and authority to own its properties and
conduct its business as described in the Preliminary Prospectus and Final
Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, and, except with respect to the States
of California, New York and Tennessee (the “Excluded States”), for which the
opinions relative thereto shall be provided by the outside counsel specified below,
NMAC is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing in
each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or the ownership of its
property requires such qualification, except where the failure to be in good
13
standing would not have a material adverse effect on NMAC’s ability to perform its
obligations under each Basic Document to which it is a party.
(ii) The Depositor has the corporate power and authority to own its properties
and conduct its business as described in the Preliminary Prospectus and Final
Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, and, except with respect to the
Excluded States and the State of Delaware, for which the opinions relative thereto
shall be provided by the outside counsel specified below, the Depositor is duly
qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which
the conduct of its business or the ownership of its property requires such
qualification, except where the failure to be in good standing would not have a
material adverse effect on the Depositor’s ability to perform its obligations under
each Basic Document to which it is a party.
(iii) Each of the Depositor and NMAC has all necessary corporate power and
authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under each Basic Document
to which it is a party.
(iv) The execution, delivery and performance by NMAC of each Basic Document to
which it is a party have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on
the part of NMAC and each Basic Document to which NMAC is a party has been duly
executed and delivered by it.
(v) The execution, delivery and performance by NMAC of each Basic Document to
which it is a party and performance by it of its obligations hereunder and
thereunder will not violate, result in a breach of any of the terms or provisions
of, or constitute (with or without notice or lapse of time or both) a default under,
or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any
of the properties or assets of NMAC (other than as contemplated in the Basic
Documents) pursuant to the terms of (A) NMAC’s Articles of Incorporation, (B) NMAC’s
By-Laws, (C) any material agreement or instrument to which NMAC is a party or by
which NMAC or any of its properties is bound, (D) any statute, rule, regulation or
order of any Texas or federal governmental agency or body or any court having
jurisdiction over NMAC or its properties that the undersigned has, in the exercise
of customary professional diligence, recognized as applicable to NMAC or to
transactions of the type contemplated by the Basic Documents or (E) the Notes.
(vi) The execution, delivery and performance by the Depositor of each Basic
Document to which it is a party and performance by it of its obligations hereunder
and thereunder will not violate, result in a breach of any of the terms or
provisions of, or constitute (with or without notice or lapse of time or both) a
default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or
encumbrance upon any of the properties or assets of the Depositor (other than as
contemplated in the Basic Documents) pursuant to the terms of (A) any material
agreement or instrument to which the Depositor is a party or by which the
Depositor or any of its properties is bound, (B) any statute, rule, regulation or
14
order of any Texas or federal governmental agency or body or any court having
jurisdiction over the Depositor or its properties that the undersigned has, in the
exercise of customary professional diligence, recognized as applicable to the
Depositor or to transactions of the type contemplated by the Basic Documents or (C)
the Notes.
(vii) No authorization, approval, consent, order or permit of any Texas or
federal governmental agency or authority is required on the part of NMAC or the
Depositor in connection with the execution and delivery of and performance by NMAC
or the Depositor of any Basic Document to which it is a party, except such as may be
required under the Act or the Rules and Regulations and state securities laws, and
except for such authorizations, approvals or consents (specified in such opinion) as
are in full force and effect as of the effective date of the Registration Statement
and the Series 2007-A Issuance Date.
(viii) Nothing has come to such counsel’s attention that would cause him to
believe that the Registration Statement on the effective date thereof contained an
untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or that
the Preliminary Prospectus, as of its date and as of the Date of Sale, together with
the statements in the Final Prospectus with respect to items identified in the
Preliminary Prospectus as to be completed in the Final Prospectus, and the Final
Prospectus as of the date of the Prospectus Supplement and as of the Series 2007-A
Issuance Date (other than the financial statements and the other accounting
information contained therein or omitted therefrom, as to which such counsel need
express no belief) contained or contain any untrue statement of a material fact or
omitted or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading, or that the descriptions therein of statutes
and governmental proceedings and contracts and other documents are inaccurate and do
not fairly present the information required to be shown therein.
(ix) There are no legal or governmental proceedings known by such counsel to be
(i) pending for which the Trust, the Depositor or NMAC has been served official
notice of, to which the Trust, the Depositor or NMAC is a party or to which any
property of the Trust, the Depositor or NMAC is subject, and (ii) threatened or
contemplated by any governmental authority or threatened by others, which
proceedings in either clause (i) or (ii) of this paragraph (A) (whether individually
or in the aggregate) that are required to be disclosed in the Registration
Statement, or (B)(1) assert the invalidity or unenforceability of all or part of any
Basic Document or the Notes, (2) seek to prevent the issuance of the Notes, (3)
(whether individually or in the aggregate) would materially and adversely affect the
Trust’s, the Depositor’s or NMAC’s obligations under any Basic Document to which it
is a party, or (4) (whether individually or in the aggregate) seek to affect
adversely the state income tax attributes of the Notes.
15
(x) The Depositor has duly authorized and executed the written order to the
Owner Trustee to execute and deliver the issuer order to the Indenture Trustee to
authenticate the Notes.
(xi) Such counsel is familiar with NMAC’s standard operating procedures
relating to NMAC’s acquisition of a perfected first priority security interest in
the vehicles and Receivables of the Dealers and the perfected security interest in
other Collateral (which security interest may be subordinate) in the ordinary course
of NMAC’s business and relating to the sale by NMAC to the Depositor of the
Receivables and such security interests in the ordinary course of NMAC’s and the
Depositor’s business. Assuming that NMAC’s standard procedures are followed with
respect to the perfection of security interests in the Vehicles, the Receivables and
the security interest in the other Collateral (which security interest may be
subordinate) (and such counsel has no reason to believe that NMAC has not or will
not continue to follow its standard procedures in connection with the perfection of
security interests in the Vehicles and the Receivables and the subordinated security
interest in the other Collateral), NMAC has acquired or will acquire a perfected
first priority security interest in the Vehicles and the Receivables and a perfected
security interest in the other Collateral (which security interest may be
subordinate).
(xii) Each of the Depositor and NMAC has obtained all necessary governmental
licenses and governmental approvals under the federal law of the United States and
the laws of the State of Texas to conduct their respective businesses as described
in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Final Prospectus where the failure to obtain
such licenses and approvals would render any material part of the corpus of the
Trust to be unenforceable or would materially and adversely affect the ability of
either the Depositor or NMAC to perform any of its respective obligations under, or
the enforceability of, any of the Basic Documents.
(g) Mayer, Brown, Xxxx & Maw LLP, special counsel to the Depositor and NMAC, shall have
furnished to the Representative their written opinion, dated as of the Series 2007-A
Issuance Date, in substantially the form set forth below, with such changes therein as
counsel for the Underwriters shall reasonably agree:
(i) NMAC is a corporation validly existing under the laws of the State of
California and has full corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and
perform all of its obligations under the Basic Documents to which it is a party and,
as of the Series 2007-A Issuance Date, to consummate the transactions contemplated
thereby; NMAC is duly qualified to transact business as a foreign corporation in
good standing in the State of New York.
(ii) The Depositor is duly qualified to transact business as a foreign
corporation in good standing in the State of California.
(iii) The execution and delivery by each of the Depositor and NMAC of each
Basic Document to which the Depositor or NMAC, as applicable, is a
16
party have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of the
Depositor or NMAC, respectively.
(iv) Each of the Basic Documents to which the Depositor or NMAC, as applicable,
is a party has been duly executed and delivered by and on behalf of the Depositor or
NMAC, respectively.
(v) Each of the Administration Agreement, the Transfer and Servicing Agreement,
the Indenture and the Receivables Purchase Agreement to which the Depositor, the
Trust or NMAC, as applicable, is a party constitutes a legal, valid and binding
obligation of such party, enforceable against such party in accordance with its
terms.
(vi) Each of the Notes is in due and proper form, and when executed by the
Trust, authenticated and delivered as specified in the Indenture, and delivered
against payment of the consideration specified in this Agreement, each of the Notes
will be validly issued and outstanding, will constitute the legal, valid and binding
obligation of the Trust, enforceable against the Trust in accordance with its terms,
and will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture.
(vii) Neither the Depositor nor the Trust is, and immediately following the
issuance of the Notes pursuant to the Indenture, neither the Depositor nor the Trust
will be an investment company required to register under the 1940 Act.
(viii) No filing or other action is necessary to perfect the Trust’s pledge to
the Indenture Trustee and the grant in favor of the Indenture Trustee of any
security interest in favor of NMAC in the Vehicles securing the Receivables.
(ix) The Receivables constitute “tangible chattel paper” within the meaning of
Section 9-102 of the California Uniform Commercial Code and the New York Uniform
Commercial Code.
(x) For federal income tax purposes, the Notes will be characterized as debt,
and the Trust will not be classified as an association or as a publicly traded
partnership taxable as a corporation.
(xi) The issuance of the Notes will not adversely affect the tax
characterization as debt of the notes of any outstanding Series or Class issued by
the Trust that were characterized as debt at the time of their issuance.
(xii) For Texas franchise tax purposes, the Notes will be characterized as
debt.
(xiii) The statements in the Base Prospectus under the heading “Material
Federal Income Tax Consequences,” “Material Legal Aspects of the Receivables” and
“ERISA Considerations” and the statements in the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement
and the Prospectus Supplement under “Material Federal Income Tax Consequences” and
in the Prospectus Supplement under the heading “ERISA
17
Considerations” to the extent they constitute matters of law or legal
conclusions with respect thereto, have been reviewed by such counsel and are correct
in all material respects.
(xiv) The execution and delivery by each of the Depositor and NMAC of each
Basic Document to which the Depositor or NMAC, as applicable, is a party does not,
and the consummation by the Depositor and NMAC, respectively, of the transactions
contemplated thereby to occur on the date of the opinion will not, require any
consent, authorization or approval of, the giving of notice to or registration with
any governmental entity, and except such as may have been made and such as may be
required under the federal securities laws, or the blue sky laws of any jurisdiction
or the Uniform Commercial Code of any state; provided that such counsel expresses no
opinion with respect to any orders, consents, permits, approvals, filings or
licenses related to the authority to sell motor vehicles, originate dealer floorplan
contracts or service dealer floorplan contracts or as may be required by any
regional or local governmental authority or under any foreign or state securities
laws.
(xv) To the knowledge of such counsel, there are no actions, proceedings or
investigations, pending or threatened, to which the Depositor, NMAC or the Trust is
a party or of which any property of the Depositor, NMAC or the Trust is the subject,
required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement, other than those disclosed
therein, (A) asserting the invalidity of any Basic Document or the Notes, (B)
seeking to prevent the issuance of the Notes or the consummation of any of the
transactions contemplated by any Basic Document or (C) seeking adversely to affect
the federal income tax attributes of the Notes as described in the Preliminary
Prospectus Supplement and the Prospectus Supplement under the heading “Material
Federal Income Tax Consequences” or the Base Prospectus under the heading “Material
Federal Income Tax Consequences.”
(xvi) At the time of the execution and delivery of (A) the Receivables Purchase
Agreement, NMAC had and continues to have the corporate power and corporate
authority to transfer the Receivables and such other property being transferred to
the Depositor pursuant to the Receivables Purchase Agreement and (B) the Transfer
and Servicing Agreement, the Depositor had and continues to have the corporate power
and corporate authority to transfer the Receivables and such other property being
transferred to the Owner Trustee on behalf of the Trust pursuant to the Transfer and
Servicing Agreement and to cause the transfer of the Notes to the Underwriters.
(xvii) Each of the Basic Documents and the Notes conform in all material
respects to the respective descriptions thereof contained in the Registration
Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Final Prospectus, as then amended or
supplemented.
18
(xviii) Neither the Trust Agreement nor the Transfer and Servicing Agreement is
required to be qualified under the 1939 Act.
(xix) The Indenture has been duly qualified under the 1939 Act, and complies as
to form with the 1939 Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder.
(xx) The Registration Statement, as of the effective date specified below
(including the Final Prospectus as included in the Registration Statement pursuant
to Rule 430B(f)(1) and (2) under the Act, as of such effective date), complied as to
form in all material respects with the requirements of the Act and the rules and
regulations under the Act, except that (i) such counsel expresses no opinion as to
the financial and statistical data included therein or excluded therefrom or the
exhibits to the Registration Statement, and (ii) except as and to the extent set
forth in paragraphs (xiii) and (xvii) above, such counsel does not assume any
responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements
contained in the Registration Statement or the Final Prospectus. The effective date
referenced in this paragraph is May 23, 2007, which the Representative has informed
such counsel is the earlier of the date the Final Prospectus was first used or the
date and time of the first contract of sale of the Notes, and therefore was the date
as of which the Final Prospectus is deemed to be part of and included in the
Registration Statement.
(xxi) The Registration Statement has become effective under the Act, and the
Preliminary Prospectus and the Final Prospectus have been filed with the Commission
pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act in the manner and within the time period
required by Rule 424(b). To the best of such counsel’s knowledge, no stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement and the Final Prospectus
and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or threatened by the
Commission.
(xxii) The execution and delivery by each of NMAC and the Depositor of each
Basic Document to which NMAC or the Depositor, as applicable, is a party, and the
consummation by each of the transactions contemplated thereby, will not violate any
applicable law, statute or governmental rule or regulation.
(xxiii) The Depositor has duly authorized and executed the written order to the
Owner Trustee to execute and deliver the issuer order to the Indenture Trustee to
authenticate the Notes.
(xxiv) The execution and delivery by each of NMAC and the Depositor of each
Basic Document to which NMAC or the Depositor, as applicable, is a party, and the
consummation by each of the transactions contemplated thereby, will not violate any
applicable law, statute or governmental rule or regulation; provided, that such
counsel expresses no opinion with respect to any orders, consents, permits,
approvals, filings or licenses related to the authority to sell motor vehicles,
originate dealer floorplan contracts or service dealer floorplan
19
contracts or as may be required by any regional or local governmental authority
or under any foreign or state securities laws.
In addition, as special counsel to the Depositor and NMAC, such counsel has reviewed
the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Final Prospectus and
participated in conferences with officers and other representatives of the Depositor and
NMAC, representatives of their independent public accountants, representatives of the
Underwriters, and their counsel, at which the contents of the Registration Statement, the
Preliminary Prospectus and the Final Prospectus and related matters were discussed. The
purpose of such counsel’s professional engagement was not to establish or confirm factual
matters set forth in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Final
Prospectus, and such counsel has not undertaken any obligation to verify independently any
of the factual matters set forth in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus
and the Final Prospectus. Moreover, many of the determinations required to be made in the
preparation of the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Final
Prospectus involve matters of a non-legal nature. Subject to the foregoing, such counsel
confirms to the Underwriters that, on the basis of the information such counsel obtained in
the course of performing the services referred to above, nothing came to such counsel’s
attention that caused such counsel to believe that (x) the Registration Statement on the
effective date thereof contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state
a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading; (y) the Preliminary Prospectus, as of the Date of Sale, together with the
statements in the Final Prospectus with respect to items identified in the Preliminary
Prospectus as to be completed in the Final Prospectus, included an untrue statement of a
material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; or (z)
the Final Prospectus, as of its date or as of the Series 2007-A Issuance Date, included or
includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that such counsel
does not assume any responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the
statements contained in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Final
Prospectus (except, as otherwise specifically provided in such counsel’s opinion dated the
Series 2007-A Issuance Date addressed to Representative relating to Federal income tax and
in paragraphs II.H and II.M of its opinion, to be delivered on the Series
2007-A Issuance Date, addressed to the Representative and others relating to enforceability,
securities law and general corporate matters), and such counsel does not express any belief
with respect to the financial statements or other financial, statistical or accounting data
contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the
Final Prospectus.
Such counsel’s opinions as to the legal, valid and binding nature and enforceability of
any agreement or instrument are subject to (i) the effect of any applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, fraudulent conveyance or similar law affecting creditors’ rights generally, and
(ii) to general principles of equity (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in
equity or at law), including concepts of commercial reasonableness, good faith and fair
dealing and the possible unavailability of specific
20
performance or injunctive relief. In addition, such counsel expresses no opinion
regarding: (i) any severability provision in the Basic Documents; or (ii) any provision of
any Basic Documents that purports to (a) appoint any person as the attorney-in-fact of any
other person, (b) provide that all rights or remedies of any party are cumulative and may be
enforced in addition to any other right or remedy and that the election of a particular
remedy does not preclude recourse to one or more remedies, (c) permit set-off in the absence
of mutuality between the parties, (d) confer subject matter jurisdiction on a federal court
to adjudicate any controversy in any situation in which such court would not have subject
matter jurisdiction, or (e) waive the right to jury trial or any right to object to the
laying of venue or any claim that an action or proceeding has been brought in an
inconvenient forum. In addition, such counsel expresses no opinion regarding any
Underwriter Free Writing prospectus. The opinions of such counsel with respect to any
agreement of the Depositor or NMAC to indemnify any person (including by way of
contribution) are subject to the qualifications that any indemnity obligation may be limited
by public policy considerations and may be subject to defenses available to sureties arising
from actions of the indemnified party.
(h) Mayer, Brown, Xxxx & Maw LLP or such counsel as may be acceptable to the
Underwriters, shall have furnished their written opinion, dated the Series 2007-A Issuance
Date, with respect to the characterization of the transfer of the Receivables by NMAC to the
Depositor and with respect to other bankruptcy and perfection of security interest matters,
and such opinion shall be in substantially the form previously discussed with the
Underwriters and their counsel and in any event satisfactory in form and in substance to the
Underwriters and their counsel.
(i) You shall have received an opinion of Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxxx LLP, counsel
to the Underwriters, dated the Series 2007-A Issuance Date, with respect to the validity of
the Notes and such other related matters as the Underwriters shall require, and the
Depositor shall have furnished or caused to be furnished to such counsel such documents as
they may reasonably request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.
(j) You shall have received an opinion addressed to you, the Depositor and NMAC of
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx & Finger, counsel to the Trust and the Owner Trustee, dated the Series
2007-A Issuance Date and satisfactory in form and substance to the Underwriters and their
counsel, to the effect that:
(i) The Owner Trustee is duly incorporated, validly existing and in good
standing as a banking corporation under the laws of the State of Delaware.
(ii) The Owner Trustee has power and authority to execute, deliver and perform
its obligations under the Trust Agreement and to consummate the transactions
contemplated thereby.
(iii) The Trust Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by
the Owner Trustee and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Owner
Trustee, except as the enforceability thereof may be (a)
21
limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, liquidation or
other similar laws affecting the enforceability of creditors’ rights generally and
(b) subject to general principles of equity (regardless of whether considered in
proceedings in equity or at law) as well as concepts of reasonableness, good faith
and fair dealing.
(iv) Neither the execution or delivery by the Owner Trustee of the Trust
Agreement nor the consummation by the Owner Trustee of any of the transactions
contemplated thereby nor compliance by the Owner Trustee with the terms or
provisions of the Trust Agreement will violate (a) any Delaware or United States
federal law, rule or regulation governing the trust powers of the Owner Trustee or
(b) the Owner Trustee’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws or require the
consent or approval of, the giving of notice to, the registration with, or the
taking of any other action with respect to, any governmental authority or agency
under the laws of the State of Delaware or the United States governing the trust
powers of the Owner Trustee other than the filing of the Trust’s certificate of
trust (the “Certificate of Trust”) with the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware (the “Secretary of State”).
(v) The Certificate of Trust has been duly filed with the Delaware Secretary of
State. The Trust has been duly formed and is validly existing as a statutory trust
and is in good standing under the Delaware Statutory Trust Act, 12 Del. C.
§3801, et seq. (the “Trust Act”), and has the power and authority under the
Trust Agreement and the Trust Act to execute, deliver and perform its obligations
under each Basic Document to which the Trust is a party (collectively, the “Trust
Documents”), to issue the Notes and to pledge the Collateral to the Indenture
Trustee as security for the Notes under the Indenture.
(vi) The Notes and the Trust Documents have been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Trust.
(vii) The Trust Agreement is a legal, valid and binding obligation of the
Depositor and the Owner Trustee, enforceable against the Depositor and the Owner
Trustee in accordance with its terms.
(viii) Neither the execution, delivery or performance by the Trust of the Trust
Documents, nor the consummation by the Trust of any of the transactions contemplated
thereby, requires the consent or approval of, the withholding of objection on the
part of, the giving of notice to, the filing, registration or qualification with, or
the taking of any other action in respect of, any governmental authority or agency
of the State of Delaware, other than the filing of the Certificate of Trust with the
Secretary of State.
(ix) Neither the execution, delivery or performance by the Trust of the Trust
Documents, nor the consummation by the Trust of the transactions contemplated
thereby, is in violation of the Trust Agreement or of any law, rule or regulation of
the State of Delaware applicable to the Trust.
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(x) Under § 3805(b) of the Trust Act, no creditor of any Certificateholder
shall have any right to obtain possession of, or otherwise exercise legal or
equitable remedies with respect to , the property of the Trust except in accordance
with the terms of the Trust Agreement.
(xi) Under the Trust Act, the Trust is a separate legal entity and, assuming
that the Transfer and Servicing Agreement conveys good title to the Trust property
to the Trust as a true sale and not as a security arrangement, the Trust rather than
the Certificateholders will hold whatever title to the Trust property as may be
conveyed to it from time to time pursuant to the Transfer and Servicing Agreement,
except to the extent that the Trust has taken action to dispose of or otherwise
transfer or encumber any part of the Trust property.
(xii) Under § 3805(b) of the Trust Act, except to the extent otherwise provided
in the Trust Agreement, a Certificateholder (including the Depositor in its capacity
as depositor) has no interest in specific Trust property.
(xiii) The Trust will not be subject to tax by the State of Delaware, and
purchasers not otherwise subject to taxation in Delaware will not be subject to
taxation in Delaware solely because of the purchase or ownership of the Notes.
(xiv) (A) The financing statement on form UCC-1, naming (1) the Depositor as
debtor, the Trust as assignor secured party and the Indenture Trustee, as secured
party, filed with the Secretary of State (Uniform Commercial Code Section) (“the
Division”) is in an appropriate form for filing in the State of Delaware. (B)
Insofar as Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of
Delaware (the “Delaware UCC”) is applicable (without regard to conflict of laws
principles), upon the filing of such financing statement with the Division, the
Trust had and continues to have a perfected security interest in the Depositor’s
rights in that portion of the Receivables in which a security interest may be
perfected by the filing of a UCC financing statement with the Division (the
“Depositor Collateral”) and the proceeds thereof (as defined in Section 9-102(a)(64)
of the Delaware UCC). (C) The certified copy of the Certificate of Request (the
“Search Report”) obtained from the Division, reflecting the results of a Uniform
Commercial Code search in the office of the Secretary of State against the
Depositor, listing all currently effective financing statements filed against the
Depositor as of the date and time set forth therein (the “Depositor UCC Effective
Time”), sets forth the proper filing office and the proper debtor necessary to
identify those Persons who under the Delaware UCC have on file financing statements
against the Depositor covering the Depositor Collateral, as of the Depositor UCC
Effective Time. Except for JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association and The Bank
of New York, as successor indenture trustee, the Search Report identifies no secured
party who has on file with the Division a currently effective financing statement
naming the Trust as debtor and describing the Depositor Collateral prior to the
Depositor UCC Effective Time.
23
(xv) (A) The financing statement on form UCC-1, naming (1) the Trust as debtor
and the Indenture Trustee, as secured party, filed with the Division is in an
appropriate form for filing in the State of Delaware (B) Insofar as Article 9 of the
Delaware UCC is applicable (without regard to conflict of laws principles), upon the
filing of such financing statement with the Division, the Indenture Trustee had and
continues to have a perfected security interest in the Trust’s rights in that
portion of the Receivables that may be perfected by the filing of a UCC financing
statement with the Division (the “Trust Filing Collateral”) and the proceeds thereof
(as defined in Section 9-102(a)(64) of the Delaware UCC). (C) The certified copy of
the Search Report obtained from the Division, reflecting the results of a Uniform
Commercial Code search in the office of the Secretary of State against the Trust,
listing all currently effective financing statements filed against the Trust as of
the date and time set forth therein (the “Trust UCC Effective Time”), sets forth the
proper filing office and the proper debtor necessary to identify those Persons who
under the Delaware UCC have on file financing statements against the Trust covering
the Trust Filing Collateral, as of the Trust UCC Effective Time. Except for JPMorgan
Chase Bank, National Association and The Bank of New York, as successor indenture
trustee, the Search Report identifies no secured party who has on file with the
Division a currently effective financing statement naming the Trust as debtor and
describing the Trust Filing Collateral prior to the Trust UCC Effective Time.
(xvi) The Depositor is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in
good standing as a corporation under the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware (the “Delaware General Corporation Law”).
(xvii) The Depositor has all requisite power and authority under the
Depositor’s Certificate of Incorporation (the “Certificate of
Incorporation”), as filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the
“Secretary of State”) at 3:53 p.m. on July 15, 2003, the By-laws of the
Depositor (the “By-laws”), and the Delaware General Corporation
Law, to execute and deliver the Basic Documents and to perform its obligations
thereunder.
(xviii) The execution and delivery by the Depositor of the Basic
Documents and performance of its obligations thereunder have been duly authorized by
all necessary action on the part of the Depositor under its Certificate of
Incorporation, its Bylaws, and the Delaware General Corporation Law.
(xix) The execution and delivery by the Depositor of the Basic
Documents and performance of its obligations thereunder do not violate (i) any
provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Depositor or its Bylaws, or
(ii) the Delaware General Corporation Law.
(k) You shall have received an opinion of counsel to the Indenture Trustee, dated the
Series 2007-A Issuance Date and satisfactory in form and substance to the Underwriters and
their counsel, to the effect that:
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(i) The Indenture Trustee is a banking corporation validly existing under the
laws of the State of New York.
(ii) The Indenture Trustee has the requisite power and authority to execute and
deliver the Indenture Supplement and perform its obligations under each Basic
Document to which it is a party, and has taken all necessary action to authorize the
execution and delivery of the Indenture Supplement and performance by it of each
Basic Document to which it is a party.
(iii) The Indenture Supplement has been duly executed and delivered by the
Indenture Trustee, and each Basic Document to which it is a party constitutes a
legal, valid and binding obligation of the Indenture Trustee enforceable against the
Indenture Trustee in accordance with its respective terms, except that certain of
such obligations may be enforceable solely against the Trust Assets and except that
such enforcement may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium, liquidation, or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of
creditors’ rights generally, and by general principles of equity, including, without
limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing
(regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity
or at law).
(iv) The Notes delivered on the date of such opinion have been duly
authenticated by the Indenture Trustee in accordance with the terms of the Indenture
and the Indenture Supplement.
(l) The Underwriters shall have received an officer’s certificate dated the Series
2007-A Issuance Date of the Chairman of the Board, the President or any Vice President and
by a principal financial or accounting officer of each of the Depositor and NMAC in which
each such officer shall state that, to the best of such officer’s knowledge after reasonable
investigation, the representations and warranties of the Depositor or NMAC, as applicable,
contained in the Transfer and Servicing Agreement and the representations and warranties of
NMAC or the Depositor, as applicable, contained in the Receivables Purchase Agreement are
true and correct in all material respects and that the Depositor or NMAC, as applicable, has
complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or
satisfied under such agreements at or prior to the Series 2007-A Issuance Date in all
material respects.
(m) You shall have received an opinion of Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx & Xxxxx, LLP, special
Tennessee counsel to the Depositor and NMAC, dated the Series 2007-A Issuance Date and
satisfactory in form and substance to the Underwriters and their counsel, to the effect
that:
(i) The Trust is not subject to the taxes imposed by T.C.A. §§ 67-4-2001 et
seq. (the “Excise Tax”), T.C.A. §§ 67-4-2101 et seq. (the “Franchise
Tax”), T.C.A. §§ 67-2-101 et seq. (the “Hall Tax”), or T.C.A. §§ 67-4-701
et seq. (the “Business Tax”).
25
(ii) The Notes are deemed to be “bonds” for purposes of the Hall Tax, and the
interest paid by the Trust to the non-corporate Noteholders who are Tennessee
residents is taxable under the Hall Tax.
(iii) Noteholders who are persons or entities who would otherwise be taxable
under T.C.A. §67-2-102 but are not residents of Tennessee are not subject to the
Hall Tax.
(iv) Noteholders who would otherwise be taxpayers within the meaning of T.C.A.
§67-4-2004(29) but are not doing business in the State of Tennessee within the
meaning of T.C.A. §67-4-2004(9) are not subject to the Excise Tax or the Franchise
Tax.
(v) With respect to the Certificateholder and Noteholders that are corporations
subject to Tennessee taxation, the tax characterization of the Certificate and the
Notes and the distributions thereon will be the same as for federal income tax
purposes.
(vi) The execution, delivery and performance by the Depositor and NMAC of each
of the Basic Documents to which it is a party do not result in any breach or
violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute (with or without
notice or lapse of time or both) a default under, or result in the creation or
imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any of the properties or assets
of the Depositor or NMAC under (other than as contemplated by the Basic Documents)
any statutes, rules, regulations, and judicial decisions of any executive,
legislative, judicial, administrative, or regulatory body of the State of Tennessee
(and not including any regional or local governmental authority) having jurisdiction
over the Trust, the Depositor or NMAC (“Governmental Authority”) that are applicable
to transactions of the type contemplated by the Basic Documents (“Applicable Laws”).
(vii) No order, certificate, permit, consent, approval, license, authorization
or validation of, or filing, recording or registration with, any Governmental
Authority (“Governmental Approval”) is required on the part of the Depositor or NMAC
for the execution and delivery of the Basic Documents to which it is a party and the
performance of their respective obligations thereunder, except (A) as may be
required under the securities laws, rules or regulations of the State of Tennessee,
(B) as are in full force and effect as of the effective date of the Registration
Statement and the Series 2007-A Issuance Date, and (C) as may be required to perfect
any security interest in the Receivables under the Tennessee Uniform Commercial
Code.
(viii) Each of the Depositor and NMAC has obtained all necessary Governmental
Approvals under Applicable Law to conduct their respective businesses as described
in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Final Prospectus where the failure to obtain
such Governmental Approvals would render any material part of the corpus of the
Trust to be unenforceable or would materially
26
and adversely affect the ability of either the Depositor or NMAC to perform any
of their respective obligations under, or the enforceability of, any of the Basic
Documents.
(n) The Notes shall have been rated in the highest rating category by Xxxxx’x and S&P.
(o) On or prior to the Series 2007-A Issuance Date, the Trust, the Depositor and NMAC
shall have furnished to the Underwriters such further certificates and documents as the
Underwriters shall reasonably have required.
8. Indemnification and Contribution.
(a) The Depositor, the Trust and NMAC shall, jointly and severally, indemnify and hold
each Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of
either Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (each a “Control Person”), harmless against any losses, claims, damages or
liabilities, joint or several, to which such Underwriter or Control Person may become
subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities
(or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in the Registration Statement, the
Preliminary Prospectus, the Final Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or
arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading, and will reimburse each Underwriter and Control Person for any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred by such Underwriter or Control Person in connection with
investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as such
expenses are incurred; provided, however, that none of the Depositor, the
Trust and NMAC will be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim,
damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement in or omission or alleged omission from any of such documents in reliance upon and
in conformity with information furnished to the Depositor, the Trust or NMAC by any
Underwriter through the Representative specified in the last sentence of subsection (b)
below specifically for use therein.
(b) Each Underwriter shall, severally and not jointly, indemnify and hold harmless the
Depositor, the Trust and NMAC against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which
the Depositor, the Trust or NMAC may become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as
such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or
are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact
contained in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, the Final Prospectus or
any amendment or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or the
alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
to make the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the
extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the
Depositor, the Trust or NMAC by such Underwriter through
27
the Representative specifically for use therein, and will reimburse any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred by the Depositor, the Trust or NMAC in connection with
investigating or defending any such action or claim as such expenses are incurred. The
Depositor, the Trust and NMAC acknowledge and agree that the only such information furnished
to the Depositor, the Trust or NMAC by any Underwriter through the Representative consists
of the following: the statements in the third paragraph (concerning initial offering
prices, concessions and reallowances) and in the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh paragraphs
(concerning stabilizing and other activities) under the heading “Underwriting” in each of
the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement the Prospectus Supplement.
(c) If any suit, action, proceeding (including any governmental or regulatory
investigation), claim or demand shall be brought or asserted against any person in respect
of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to either of the two preceding paragraphs, such
person (the “Indemnified Party”) shall promptly notify the person against whom such
indemnity may be sought (the “Indemnifying Party”) in writing of the commencement thereof,
but the omission to so notify the Indemnifying Party will not relieve it from any liability
which it may have to any Indemnified Party otherwise than under such preceding paragraphs,
and with respect to such preceding paragraphs, any such omission shall not relieve it from
any liability except to the extent it has been materially prejudiced by such omission. In
case any such action is brought against any Indemnified Party and it notifies the
Indemnifying Party of the commencement thereof, the Indemnifying Party will be entitled to
participate therein and, to the extent that it may wish, jointly with any other Indemnifying
Party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to such
Indemnified Party (who may be counsel to the Indemnifying Party) and after notice from the
Indemnifying Party to such Indemnified Party of its election so to assume the defense
thereof and after acceptance of counsel by the Indemnified Party, the Indemnifying Party
will not be liable to such Indemnified Party under this Section for any legal or other
expenses subsequently incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection with the defense
thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. In any such proceeding, any
Indemnified Party shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses
of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Party unless (i) the
Indemnifying Party and the Indemnified Party shall have mutually agreed to the contrary,
(ii) 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,
(iii) 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 (iv) the Indemnifying Party has elected to assume the
defense of such proceeding but has failed within a reasonable time to retain counsel
reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party. The Indemnifying Party shall not, with
respect to any action brought against any Indemnified Party, be liable for the fees and
expenses of more than one firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all Indemnified
Parties, and all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed within a reasonable period of
time as they are incurred. Any separate firm appointed for the Underwriters and any Control
Person in accordance with this subsection
28
(c) shall be designated in writing by an Underwriter, and any such separate firm
appointed for the Depositor, the Trust or NMAC, its respective directors, officers who sign
the Registration Statement and Control Persons in accordance with this subsection (c) shall
be designated in writing by the Depositor, the Trust or NMAC, as the case may be. The
Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without
its written consent, but if settled with such consent, with respect to an action of which
the Indemnifying Party was notified and had the opportunity to participate in (whether or
not it chose to so participate), the Indemnifying Party agrees to indemnify any Indemnified
Party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement. Notwithstanding
the foregoing sentence, if at any time an Indemnified Party shall have requested an
Indemnifying Party to reimburse the Indemnified Party for fees and expenses of counsel as
contemplated by the fourth sentence of this paragraph, the Indemnifying Party agrees that it
shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if
(i) such settlement is entered into more than 60 days after receipt by such Indemnifying
Party of the aforesaid request, and during such 60 day period the Indemnifying Party has not
responded thereto, and (ii) such Indemnifying Party shall not have reimbursed the
Indemnified Party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No
Indemnifying Party shall, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party, effect
any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding 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 includes an unconditional release of such
Indemnified Party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such
proceeding which release does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault,
culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any Indemnified Party without the consent
of the Indemnified Party.
(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section is unavailable or insufficient
to hold harmless an Indemnified Party under subsection (a) or (b) above, then each
Indemnifying Party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party
as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in subsection (a) or
(b) above in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by
the Depositor, the Trust and NMAC on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other from the
offering of the Notes. If, however, the allocation provided by the immediately preceding
sentence is not permitted by applicable law, then each Indemnifying Party shall contribute
to such amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of the
Depositor, the Trust and NMAC on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other in
connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages
or liabilities as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative
benefits received by the Depositor, the Trust and NMAC on the one hand and the Underwriters
on the other shall be deemed to be in the same proportion that the total net proceeds from
the offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Depositor, the Trust and NMAC bear
to the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters. The
relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue
or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state
a material fact relates to information supplied by the Depositor, the Trust or NMAC or by
the Underwriters and
29
the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to
correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission. The Depositor, the Trust, NMAC and
the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to
this subsection (d) were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of
allocation which does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to above
in this subsection (d). The amount paid by an Indemnified Party as a result of the losses,
claims, damages or liabilities referred to above in this subsection (d) shall be deemed to
include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Indemnified Party in
connection with investigating or defending any action or claim which is the subject of this
subsection (d). Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (d), no Underwriter shall
be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at
which the Notes underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public
exceeds the amount of any damages which such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay
by reason of such 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
Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation. The Underwriters’ obligations in this subsection (d) to contribute are
several in proportion to their respective underwriting obligations and not joint.
(e) The obligations of the Depositor, the Trust and NMAC under this Section shall be in
addition to any liability which the Depositor, the Trust or NMAC may otherwise have and
shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each person, if any, who controls any
Underwriter within the meaning of the Act; and the obligations of the Underwriters under
this Section shall be in addition to any liability which the respective Underwriters may
otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each director of the
Depositor, the Trust or NMAC, to each officer of the Depositor, the Trust or NMAC who has
signed the Registration Statement and to each person, if any, who controls the Depositor or
NMAC within the meaning of the Act.
(f) The Trust’s obligations pursuant to this Section 7 shall be subordinated to its
obligations to make payments on the Notes and the notes of any other series issued by it and
will only be paid to the extent of available funds.
9. Survival of Certain Representations and Obligations. The respective indemnities,
agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the Trust, the Depositor, NMAC or
their respective officers and of the Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement
will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation or statement as to the
results thereof made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, the Depositor or NMAC or any of their
respective representatives, officers or directors or any Control Person, and will survive delivery
of and payment for the Notes. If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 10 of this
Agreement or if for any reason the purchase of the Notes by the Underwriters is not consummated,
the Depositor shall remain responsible for the expenses to be paid or reimbursed by it pursuant to
Section 5 of this Agreement, and the respective obligations of the Depositor and the Underwriters
pursuant to Section 8 of this Agreement shall remain in effect. If the purchase of the Notes by
the Underwriters is not consummated for any reason other than solely because of the termination of
this Agreement pursuant to Section 10 of this Agreement,
30
the Depositor will reimburse the Underwriters for all out-of-pocket expenses (including fees
and disbursements of counsel) reasonably incurred by them in connection with the offering of the
Notes.
10. Failure to Purchase the Notes. If any Underwriter or Underwriters default on
their obligations to purchase Notes hereunder and the aggregate principal amount of Notes that such
defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase does not exceed 10% of the
total principal amount of such Notes, the Representative may make arrangements satisfactory to the
Trust for the purchase of such Notes by other persons, including the nondefaulting Underwriter or
Underwriters, but if no such arrangements are made by the Series 2007-A Issuance Date, the
nondefaulting Underwriter or Underwriters shall be obligated, in proportion to their commitments
hereunder, to purchase the Notes that such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed
to purchase. If any Underwriter or Underwriters so default and the aggregate principal amount of
Notes with respect to which such default or defaults occur exceeds 10% of the total principal
amount of Notes, as applicable, and arrangements satisfactory to the nondefaulting Underwriter or
Underwriters and the Trust for the purchase of such Notes by other persons are not made within 36
hours after such default, this Agreement will terminate without liability on the part of any
non-defaulting Underwriter or the Depositor, except as provided in Section 9 of this Agreement.
As used in this Agreement, the term “Underwriter” includes any person substituted for an
Underwriter under this Section. Nothing herein will relieve a defaulting Underwriter or
Underwriters from liability for its default.
11. Notices. All communications hereunder will be in writing and, if sent to the
Representative or the Underwriters will be mailed, delivered or sent by facsimile transmission and
confirmed to Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated, 0000 Xxxxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000,
Attention: Xxxx Xxxxxx (facsimile number 212-507-2992) with a copy to Xxxxx X. Xxx, 0000 Xxxxxx xx
xxx Xxxxxxx, 00xx xxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000, Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxx (facsimile number
212-507-4782); and if sent to the Depositor, will be mailed, delivered or sent by facsimile
transmission and confirmed to it at Nissan Wholesale Receivables Corporation II, X.X. Xxx 000000,
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000-0000, attention Treasurer (facsimile number (000) 000-0000).
12. No Bankruptcy Petition. Each Underwriter agrees that, prior to the date which is
one year and one day after the payment in full of all securities issued by the Trust, the Depositor
or by a trust for which the Depositor was the depositor, which securities were rated by any
nationally recognized statistical rating organization, it will not institute against, or join any
other person in instituting against, the Trust or the Depositor any bankruptcy, reorganization,
arrangement, insolvency or liquidation proceedings or other proceedings under any federal or state
bankruptcy or similar law.
13. Successors. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the
Underwriters and the Depositor and their respective successors and the officers and directors and
Control Persons referred to in Section 8 of this Agreement, and no other person will have any right
or obligations hereunder.
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14. Representation of the Underwriters. The Representative will act for the several
Underwriters in connection with the transactions described in this Agreement, and any action taken
by the Representative under this Agreement will be binding upon all the Underwriters.
15. Representations and Warranties of Underwriters. With respect to any offers or
sales of the Notes outside the United States (and solely with respect to any such offers and sales)
each Underwriter severally and not jointly makes the following representations and warranties:
(a) Each Underwriter represents and agrees that it will comply with all applicable laws
and regulations in each jurisdiction in which it purchases, offers or sells the Notes or
possesses or distributes the Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus or any other
offering material and will obtain any consent, approval or permission required by it for the
purchase, offer or sale by it of Notes under the laws and regulations in force in any
jurisdiction to which it is subject or in which it makes such purchases, offers or sales and
neither the Depositor nor NMAC shall have any responsibility therefor;
(b) No action has been or will be taken by such Underwriter that would permit public
offering of the Notes or possession or distribution of any offering material in relation to
the Notes in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required unless the Depositor
or NMAC has agreed to such actions and such actions have been taken;
(c) Each Underwriter represents and agrees that it will not offer, sell or deliver any
of the Notes or distribute any such offering material in or from any jurisdiction except
under circumstances that will result in compliance with applicable laws and regulations and
that will not impose any obligation on the Depositor or NMAC or the Underwriters;
(d) Such Underwriter acknowledges that it is not authorized to give any information or
make any representation in relation to the Notes other than (i) oral communications that are
consistent with the Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus and would not cause the
Trust, the Depositor or NMAC to incur liability, (ii) those contained or incorporated by
reference in the Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus for the Notes and (iii) such
additional information, if any, as the Depositor or NMAC shall, in writing, provide to and
authorize such Underwriter so to use and distribute to actual and potential purchasers of
the Notes;
(e) Each Underwriter represents and agrees that it has not offered or sold and will not
offer or sell, prior to the date six months after their date of issuance, any of the Notes
to persons in the United Kingdom, except to persons whose ordinary activities involve them
in acquiring, holding, managing or disposing of investments (as principal or agent) for the
purposes of their businesses or otherwise in circumstances that have not resulted in and
will not result in an offer to the public in the United Kingdom within the meaning of the
Public Offers of Securities Regulations 1995 (as amended);
32
(f) Each Underwriter has complied and will comply with all applicable provisions of the
Financial Services and Markets Xxx 0000 (“FSMA”) with respect to anything done by such
Underwriter in relation to the Notes in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom; and
(g) Each Underwriter will only communicate or cause to be communicated any invitation
or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the
FSMA) received by it in connection with the issue or sale of any securities in circumstances
in which Section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply to the Trust.
16. Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance
with, the laws of the State of New York, without reference to its conflict of law provisions (other
than Section 5-1401 of the General Obligations Law of the State of New York).
17. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed by each of the parties hereto in any
number of counterparts, and by each of the parties hereto on separate counterparts, each of which
counterparts, when so executed and delivered, shall be deemed to be an original, but all such
counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.
18. Acknowledgment. Each of the Trust, the Depositor and NMAC hereby acknowledges and
agrees that pursuant to this Agreement that the Underwriters are acting solely in the capacity of
an arm’s length contractual counterparty to the Trust, the Depositor and NMAC with respect to the
offering of the Notes contemplated hereby (including in connection with determining the terms of
the offering) and not as a financial advisor or a fiduciary to, or an agent of, the Trust, the
Depositor, NMAC or any other Person. Additionally, neither the Representative nor any other
Underwriter is advising the Trust, the Depositor, NMAC or any other Person as to any legal, tax,
investment, accounting or regulatory matters in any jurisdiction. Each of the Trust, the Depositor
and NMAC shall consult with its own advisors concerning such matters and shall be responsible for
making its own independent investigation and appraisal of the transactions contemplated hereby, and
the Underwriters shall have no responsibility or liability to the Trust, the Depositor or NMAC with
respect thereto. Any review by the Underwriters of the Trust, the Depositor, NMAC, the
transactions contemplated hereby or other matters relating to such transactions will be performed
solely for the benefit of the Underwriters and shall not be on behalf of the Trust, the Depositor
or NMAC.
[remainder of page intentionally left blank]
33
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign and return to us a
counterpart hereof, whereupon it will become a binding agreement between the Trust, the Depositor,
NMAC and the several Underwriters in accordance with its terms.
Very truly yours, | ||||||
NISSAN MASTER OWNER TRUST RECEIVABLES | ||||||
By: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, not in its individual capacity but solely as Owner Trustee |
||||||
By | /s/ J. Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx | |||||
Authorized Signatory | ||||||
NISSAN WHOLESALE RECEIVABLES CORPORATION II |
||||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx | |||||
Name: | Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx | |||||
Title: | Treasurer | |||||
NISSAN MOTOR ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION |
||||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx | |||||
Name: | Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx | |||||
Title: | Treasurer |
Nissan 2007-A Underwriting Agreement
The foregoing Underwriting Agreement is | ||||
hereby confirmed and accepted as of the date first above written: | ||||
XXXXXX XXXXXXX & CO. INCORPORATED | ||||
By: |
/s/ Xxxx Xxxxxx | |||
Name: |
Xxxx Xxxxxx | |||
Title: |
Managing Director | |||
Acting on behalf of itself | ||||
and as Representative of the several Underwriters |
Nissan 2007-A Underwriting Agreement
SCHEDULE 1
Principal Amount | ||||
of | ||||
Underwriter | 2007-A Notes | |||
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated |
$ | 275,000,000 | ||
Greenwich Capital Markets, Inc. |
$ | 275,000,000 | ||
ABN AMRO Incorporated |
$ | 150,000,000 | ||
Citigroup Global Markets Inc. |
$ | 150,000,000 | ||
Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. |
$ | 150,000,000 | ||
Total |
$ | 1,000,000,000 |
1. |
INTRODUCTORY | 1 | ||||
2. |
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE TRUST, THE DEPOSITOR AND NMAC | 1 | ||||
3. |
PURCHASE, SALE AND DELIVERY OF NOTES | 8 | ||||
4. |
OFFERING BY UNDERWRITERS | 8 | ||||
5. |
COVENANTS OF THE DEPOSITOR AND THE TRUST | 8 | ||||
7. |
CONDITIONS OF THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE UNDERWRITERS | 11 | ||||
8. |
INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION | 27 | ||||
9. |
SURVIVAL OF CERTAIN REPRESENTATIONS AND OBLIGATIONS | 30 | ||||
10. |
FAILURE TO PURCHASE THE NOTES | 31 | ||||
11. |
NOTICES | 31 | ||||
12. |
NO BANKRUPTCY PETITION | 31 | ||||
13. |
SUCCESSORS | 32 | ||||
14. |
REPRESENTATION OF THE UNDERWRITERS | 32 | ||||
15. |
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF UNDERWRITERS | 32 | ||||
16. |
APPLICABLE LAW | 33 | ||||
17. |
COUNTERPARTS | 33 | ||||
18. |
ACKNOWLEDGMENT | 33 | ||||
SCHEDULE 1 | 1 |