EXHIBIT 99.1
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AMERICAN HOME MORTGAGE SERVICING, INC.,
as RMBS Master Servicer,
AMERICAN HOME MORTGAGE TRUST 2004-4,
as Issuer
and
THE BANK OF NEW YORK,
as Indenture Trustee
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SERVICING AGREEMENT
Dated as of December 21, 2004
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Mortgage Loans
American Home Mortgage Investment Trust 2004-4
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
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ARTICLE I
Definitions....................................................................................2
Section 1.01 Definitions.............................................................2
Section 1.02 Other Definitional Provisions...........................................2
Section 1.03 Interest Calculations...................................................2
ARTICLE II
Representations and Warranties.................................................................4
Section 2.01 Representations and Warranties Regarding the RMBS Master
Servicer................................................................4
Section 2.02 Existence...............................................................5
Section 2.03 Enforcement of Representations and Warranties...........................5
ARTICLE III
Administration and Servicing of Mortgage Loans.................................................7
Section 3.01 RMBS Master Servicer to Assure Servicing................................7
Section3.02 Subservicing Agreements Between RMBS Master
Servicer and Subservicers...............................................9
Section 3.03 Successor Subservicers..................................................9
Section 3.04 Liability of the RMBS Master Servicer..................................10
Section 3.05 Assumption or Termination of Subservicing Agreements by
Indenture Trustee......................................................10
Section 3.06 Collection of Mortgage Loan Payments...................................11
Section 3.07 Withdrawals from the Collection Account................................13
Section 3.08 Collection of Taxes Assessments and Similar Items;
Servicing Accounts.....................................................15
Section 3.09 Access to Certain Documentation and Information Regarding
the Mortgage Loans.....................................................16
Section 3.10 Maintenance of Primary Insurance Policies; Collection
Thereunder.............................................................16
Section 3.11 Maintenance of Hazard Insurance and Fidelity Coverage..................17
Section 3.12 Due-on-Sale Clauses; Assumption Agreements.............................18
Section 3.13 Realization Upon Defaulted Mortgage Loans..............................19
Section 3.14 Indenture Trustee to Cooperate; Release of Mortgage Files..............20
Section 3.15 Master Servicing Compensation..........................................21
Section 3.16 Annual Statements of Compliance........................................22
Section 3.17 Annual Independent Public Accountants' Servicing Report................22
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Section 3.18 Optional Purchase of Defaulted Mortgage Loans..........................23
Section 3.19 Information Required by the Internal Revenue Service Generally
and Reports of Foreclosures and Abandonments of
Mortgaged Property.....................................................23
Section 3.20 Fair Credit Reporting Act..............................................24
ARTICLE IV
Servicing Certificate.........................................................................25
Section 4.01 Remittance Reports.....................................................25
Section 4.02 Reserved...............................................................25
Section 4.03 Reserved...............................................................25
Section 4.04 Advances...............................................................25
Section 4.05 Compensating Interest Payments.........................................26
Section 4.06 Exchange Act Reporting.................................................26
ARTICLE V
The RMBS Master Servicer......................................................................28
Section 5.01 Liability of the RMBS Master Servicer..................................28
Section 5.02 Merger or Consolidation of or Assumption of the Obligations
of the RMBS Master Servicer............................................28
Section 5.03 Limitation on Liability of the RMBS Master Servicer and
Others.................................................................28
Section 5.04 RMBS Master Servicer Not to Resign.....................................29
Section 5.05 Delegation of Duties...................................................29
Section 5.06 Indemnification........................................................30
ARTICLE VI
Default.......................................................................................33
Section 6.01 Servicing Default......................................................33
Section 6.02 Indenture Trustee to Act; Appointment of Successor.....................35
Section 6.03 Notification to Noteholders............................................37
Section 6.04 Waiver of Defaults.....................................................37
ARTICLE VII
Miscellaneous Provisions......................................................................38
Section 7.01 Amendment..............................................................38
Section 7.02 GOVERNING LAW..........................................................38
Section 7.03 Notices................................................................38
Section 7.04 Severability of Provisions.............................................39
Section 7.05 Third-Party Beneficiaries..............................................39
Section 7.06 Counterparts...........................................................39
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Section 7.07 Effect of Headings and Table of Contents...............................39
Section 7.08 Termination............................................................39
Section 7.09 No Petition............................................................39
Section 7.10 No Recourse............................................................40
EXHIBIT A - RMBS MORTGAGE LOAN SCHEDULE....................................................A-1
EXHIBIT B - FORM OF REQUEST FOR RELEASE....................................................B-1
EXHIBIT C-1 - FORM OF CERTIFICATION TO BE PROVIDED BY
THE RMBS MASTER SERVICER WITH FORM 10-K........................................C-1
EXHIBIT C-2 - FORM OF FORM CERTIFICATION TO BE PROVIDED BY
THE INDENTURE TRUSTEE WITH FORM 10-K...........................................C-2
EXHIBIT D - FORM OF REMITTANCE REPORT FROM RMBS MASTER SERVICER............................D-1
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This Servicing Agreement, dated as of December 21, 2004, among
American Home Mortgage Servicing, Inc., as RMBS Master Servicer (the "RMBS
Master Servicer" ), American Home Mortgage Investment Trust 2004-4, as Issuer
(the "Issuer") and The Bank of New York, as Indenture Trustee (the "Indenture
Trustee").
W I T N E S S E T H T H A T :
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WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of the Mortgage Loan Purchase
Agreement and the related Group I, Group II, Group III, Group IV, Group V, Group
VI and Group VII Subsequent Mortgage Loan Purchase Agreement, American Home
Mortgage Securities LLC (the "Company" or the "Depositor") will acquire the
Mortgage Loans and the related Group I, Group II, Group III, Group IV, Group V,
Group VI and Group VII Subsequent Mortgage Loans;
WHEREAS, the Company will create American Home Mortgage
Investment Trust 2004-4, a Delaware statutory trust, and will transfer the
Mortgage Loans and the related Subsequent Mortgage Loans and all of its rights
under the Mortgage Loan Purchase Agreement and the related Group I, Group II,
Group III, Group IV, Group V, Group VI and Group VII Subsequent Mortgage Loan
Purchase Agreement to the Issuer;
WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of an Amended and Restated
Trust Agreement dated as of December 21, 2004 (the "Trust Agreement") among the
Company, as depositor, Wilmington Trust Company, as owner trustee (the "Owner
Trustee") and The Bank of New York, as certificate registrar and certificate
paying agent, the Company will convey the Mortgage Loans to the Issuer in
exchange for the Certificates (as defined below);
WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of the Trust Agreement, the
Issuer will issue and transfer to or at the direction of the Depositor, the
Trust Certificates, 2004-4 (the "Certificates");
WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of an Indenture dated as of
December 21, 2004 (the "Indenture") between the Issuer and The Bank of New York
(the "Indenture Trustee"), the Issuer will pledge the Mortgage Loans and issue
and transfer to or at the direction of the Purchaser the Mortgage-Backed Notes,
Series 2004-4, Class I-A-1, Class I-A-2, Class II-A-1, Class II-A-2, Class
III-A, Class IV-A, Class V-A, Class VI-A-1, Class VI-A-2, Class VII-A, Class
M-1, Class M-2, Class M-3, Class VI-M-1, Class VI-M-2, Class XX-X-0, Xxxxx
XX-X-0, XX-X-0, XX-X-0 and Class N Notes; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of this Servicing Agreement,
the RMBS Master Servicer will service the Mortgage Loans set forth on the RMBS
Mortgage Loan Schedule attached hereto as Exhibit A directly or through one or
more Subservicers for the benefit of the holders of the Class I-A-1, Class
I-A-2, Class II-A-1, Class II-A-2, Class III-A, Class IV-A, Class V-A, Class
VI-A- 1, Class VI-A-2, Class M-1, Class M-2, Class M-3, Class VI-M-1, Class
VI-M-2, Class XX-X-0, Xxxxx XX-X-0, XX-X-0, XX-X-0 and Class N Notes
(collectively, the "Notes");
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants
herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
Definitions
Section 1.01 Definitions. For all purposes of this Servicing Agreement,
except as otherwise expressly provided herein or unless the context otherwise
requires, capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings
assigned to such terms in the Definitions contained in Appendix A to the
Indenture which is incorporated by reference herein. All other capitalized terms
used herein shall have the meanings specified herein.
Section 1.02 Other Definitional Provisions.
(a) All terms defined in this Servicing Agreement shall have the
defined meanings when used in any certificate or other document made or
delivered pursuant hereto unless otherwise defined therein.
(b) As used in this Servicing Agreement and in any certificate or
other document made or delivered pursuant hereto or thereto, accounting terms
not defined in this Servicing Agreement or in any such certificate or other
document, and accounting terms partly defined in this Servicing Agreement or in
any such certificate or other document, to the extent not defined, shall have
the respective meanings given to them under generally accepted accounting
principles. To the extent that the definitions of accounting terms in this
Servicing Agreement or in any such certificate or other document are
inconsistent with the meanings of such terms under generally accepted accounting
principles, the definitions contained in this Servicing Agreement or in any such
certificate or other document shall control.
(c) The words "hereof," "herein," "hereunder" and words of similar
import when used in this Servicing Agreement shall refer to this Servicing
Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Servicing
Agreement; Section and Exhibit references contained in this Servicing Agreement
are references to Sections and Exhibits in or to this Servicing Agreement unless
otherwise specified; and the term "including" shall mean "including without
limitation".
(d) The definitions contained in this Servicing Agreement are
applicable to the singular as well as the plural forms of such terms and to the
masculine as well as the feminine and neuter genders of such terms.
(e) Any agreement, instrument or statute defined or referred to
herein or in any instrument or certificate delivered in connection herewith
means such agreement, instrument or statute as from time to time amended,
modified or supplemented and includes (in the case of agreements or instruments)
references to all attachments thereto and instruments incorporated therein;
references to a Person are also to its permitted successors and assigns.
Section 1.03 Interest Calculations. All calculations of interest
hereunder that are made in respect of the Stated Principal Balance of a Mortgage
Loan shall be made on the basis of a 360-day
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year consisting of twelve 30-day months, notwithstanding the terms of the
related Mortgage Note and Mortgage.
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ARTICLE II
Representations and Warranties
Section 2.01 Representations and Warranties Regarding the RMBS Master
Servicer. The RMBS Master Servicer represents and warrants to the Issuer and for
the benefit of the Indenture Trustee, as pledgee of the Mortgage Loans and the
Noteholders, as of the Cut-off Date and the Closing Date, that:
(i) The RMBS Master Servicer is a corporation duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the
State of Maryland and has the corporate power to own its assets and to
transact the business in which it is currently engaged. The RMBS Master
Servicer is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing in
each jurisdiction in which the character of the business transacted by
it or properties owned or leased by it requires such qualification and
in which the failure to so qualify would have a material adverse effect
on the business, properties, assets, or condition (financial or other)
of the RMBS Master Servicer or the validity or enforceability of the
Mortgage Loans;
(ii) The RMBS Master Servicer has the power and authority
to make, execute, deliver and perform this Servicing Agreement and all
of the transactions contemplated under this Servicing Agreement, and
has taken all necessary corporate action to authorize the execution,
delivery and performance of this Servicing Agreement. When executed and
delivered, this Servicing Agreement will constitute the legal, valid
and binding obligation of the RMBS Master Servicer enforceable in
accordance with its terms, except as enforcement of such terms may be
limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting the
enforcement of creditors' rights generally and by the availability of
equitable remedies;
(iii) The RMBS Master Servicer is not required to obtain
the consent of any other Person or any consent, license, approval or
authorization from, or registration or declaration with, any
governmental authority, bureau or agency in connection with the
execution, delivery, performance, validity or enforceability of this
Servicing Agreement, except for such consent, license, approval or
authorization, or registration or declaration, as shall have been
obtained or filed, as the case may be;
(iv) The execution and delivery of this Servicing
Agreement and the performance of the transactions contemplated hereby
by the RMBS Master Servicer will not violate any provision of any
existing law or regulation or any order or decree of any court
applicable to the RMBS Master Servicer or any provision of the
certificate of incorporation or bylaws of the RMBS Master Servicer, or
constitute a material breach of any mortgage, indenture, contract or
other agreement to which the RMBS Master Servicer is a party or by
which the RMBS Master Servicer may be bound;
(v) No litigation or administrative proceeding of or
before any court, tribunal or governmental body is currently pending
(other than litigation with respect to which pleadings
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or documents have been filed with a court, but not served on the RMBS
Master Servicer), or to the knowledge of the RMBS Master Servicer
threatened, against the RMBS Master Servicer or any of its properties
or with respect to this Servicing Agreement or the Notes or the
Certificates which, to the knowledge of the RMBS Master Servicer, has a
reasonable likelihood of resulting in a material adverse effect on the
transactions contemplated by this Servicing Agreement;
(vi) The RMBS Master Servicer is a member of MERS in good
standing, and will comply in all material respects with the rules and
procedures of MERS in connection with the servicing of the Mortgage
Loans that are registered with MERS; and
(vii) The RMBS Master Servicer for each Mortgage Loan has
fully furnished, in accordance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act and
its implementing regulations, accurate and complete information (i.e.,
favorable and unfavorable) on its borrower credit files to Equifax,
Experian, and Trans Union Credit Information Company (three of the
credit repositories), on a monthly basis.
The foregoing representations and warranties shall survive any
termination of the RMBS Master Servicer hereunder.
Section 2.02 Existence. The Issuer will keep in full effect its
existence, rights and franchises as a statutory trust under the laws of the
State of Delaware (unless it becomes, or any successor Issuer hereunder is or
becomes, organized under the laws of any other state or of the United States of
America, in which case the Issuer will keep in full effect its existence, rights
and franchises under the laws of such other jurisdiction) and will obtain and
preserve its qualification to do business in each jurisdiction in which such
qualification is or shall be necessary to protect the validity and
enforceability of this Servicing Agreement.
Section 2.03 Enforcement of Representations and Warranties. The RMBS
Master Servicer, on behalf of and subject to the direction of the Indenture
Trustee, as pledgee of the Mortgage Loans shall enforce the representations and
warranties and related obligations for breaches thereof of the Seller pursuant
to the Mortgage Loan Purchase Agreement or the related Group I, Group II, Group
III, Group IV, Group V, Group VI or Group VII Subsequent Mortgage Loan Purchase
Agreement, as applicable. Upon the discovery by the Seller, the RMBS Master
Servicer, the Indenture Trustee or the Company of a breach of any of the
representations and warranties made in the Mortgage Loan Purchase Agreement or
the related Group I, Group II, Group III, Group IV, Group V, Group VI or Group
VII Subsequent Mortgage Loan Purchase Agreement, as applicable in respect of any
Mortgage Loan which materially and adversely affects the interests of the
Noteholders or the Certificateholders, the party discovering the same shall give
prompt written notice to the other parties. The RMBS Master Servicer shall
promptly notify the Seller and request that, pursuant to the terms of the
Mortgage Loan Purchase Agreement or the Group I, Group II, Group III, Group IV,
Group V, Group VI or Group VII Subsequent Mortgage Loan Purchase Agreement, as
applicable, the Seller either (i) cure such breach in all material respects or
(ii) purchase such Mortgage Loan or such Group I, Group II, Group III, Group IV,
Group V, Group VI or Group VII Subsequent Mortgage Loan, in each instance in
accordance with the Mortgage Loan Purchase Agreement or the Group I, Group II,
Group III, Group IV, Group V, Group VI or Group VII Subsequent Mortgage Loan
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Purchase Agreement, as applicable; provided that the Seller shall, subject to
the conditions set forth in the Mortgage Loan Purchase Agreement, have the
option to substitute an Eligible Substitute Mortgage Loan or Eligible Substitute
Mortgage Loans for such Mortgage Loan. Monthly Payments due with respect to
Eligible Substitute Mortgage Loans in the month of substitution shall not be
part of the Trust Estate and will be retained by the RMBS Master Servicer and
remitted by the RMBS Master Servicer to the Seller on the next succeeding
Payment Date. For the month of substitution, distributions to the Payment
Account pursuant to this Agreement will include the Monthly Payment due on a
Deleted Mortgage Loan for such month and thereafter the Seller shall be entitled
to retain all amounts received in respect of such Deleted Mortgage Loan. The
RMBS Master Servicer shall amend or cause to be amended the RMBS Mortgage Loan
Schedule to reflect the removal of such Deleted Mortgage Loan and the
substitution of the related Eligible Substitute Mortgage Loan and the RMBS
Master Servicer shall promptly deliver the amended RMBS Mortgage Loan Schedule
to the related Subservicer, Owner Trustee and Indenture Trustee.
In connection with the substitution of one or more Eligible Substitute
Mortgage Loans for one or more Deleted Mortgage Loans, the RMBS Master Servicer
will determine the amount (such amount, a "Substitution Adjustment Amount"), if
any, by which the aggregate Stated Principal Balance of all such Eligible
Substitute Mortgage Loans as of the date of substitution is less than the
aggregate principal balance of all such Deleted Mortgage Loans (after
application of the principal portion of the Monthly Payments due on such Deleted
Mortgage Loans in the month of substitution that are to be distributed to the
Payment Account in the month of substitution). The Seller shall pay the
Substitution Adjustment Amount to the RMBS Master Servicer and the RMBS Master
Servicer shall deposit such Substitution Adjustment Amount into the Collection
Account upon receipt.
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ARTICLE III
Administration and Servicing of Mortgage Loans
Section 3.01 RMBS Master Servicer to Assure Servicing. (a) The RMBS
Master Servicer shall supervise, or take such actions as are necessary to
ensure, the servicing and administration of the Mortgage Loans and any REO
Property in accordance with this Servicing Agreement and its normal servicing
practices, which generally shall conform to the standards of an institution
prudently servicing mortgage loans for its own account and shall have full
authority to do anything it reasonably deems appropriate or desirable in
connection with such servicing and administration. The RMBS Master Servicer may
perform its responsibilities relating to servicing through other agents or
independent contractors, but shall not thereby be released from any of its
responsibilities for the servicing and administration of the Mortgage Loans. The
authority of the RMBS Master Servicer, in its capacity as master servicer, and
any Subservicer acting on its behalf, shall include, without limitation, the
power to (i) consult with and advise any Subservicer regarding administration of
a related Mortgage Loan, (ii) approve any recommendation by a Subservicer to
foreclose on a related Mortgage Loan, (iii) supervise the filing and collection
of insurance claims and take or cause to be taken such actions on behalf of the
insured Person thereunder as shall be reasonably necessary to prevent the denial
of coverage thereunder, and (iv) effectuate foreclosure or other conversion of
the ownership of the Mortgaged Property securing a related Mortgage Loan,
including the employment of attorneys, the institution of legal proceedings, the
collection of deficiency judgments, the acceptance of compromise proposals, the
filing of claims under any Primary Insurance Policy, and any other matter
pertaining to a delinquent Mortgage Loan. The authority of the RMBS Master
Servicer shall include, in addition, the power on behalf of the Noteholders, the
Indenture Trustee or any of them to (i) execute and deliver customary consents
or waivers and other instruments and documents, (ii) consent to transfer of any
related Mortgaged Property and assumptions of the related Mortgage Notes and
Security Instruments (in the manner provided in this Servicing Agreement) and
(iii) collect any Insurance Proceeds and Liquidation Proceeds. Without limiting
the generality of the foregoing, the RMBS Master Servicer and any Subservicer
acting on its behalf may, and is hereby authorized, and empowered by the
Indenture Trustee, to execute and deliver, on behalf of itself, the Noteholders,
the Indenture Trustee or any of them, any instruments of satisfaction,
cancellation, partial or full release, discharge and all other comparable
instruments, with respect to the related Mortgage Loans, the insurance policies
and the accounts related thereto, and the Mortgaged Properties. The RMBS Master
Servicer may exercise this power in its own name or in the name of a
Subservicer.
In accordance with the standards of the preceding paragraph, the RMBS
Master Servicer shall advance or cause to be advanced funds as necessary for the
purpose of effecting the payment of taxes and assessments on the Mortgaged
Properties, which advances shall be reimbursable in the first instance from
related collections from the Mortgagors pursuant to Section 3.08, and further as
provided in Section 3.07; provided that the RMBS Master Servicer shall not be
obligated to make such advance if, in its good faith judgment, the RMBS Master
Servicer determines that such advance will be a Nonrecoverable Advance.
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The relationship of the RMBS Master Servicer (and of any successor to
the RMBS Master Servicer under this Agreement) to the Indenture Trustee under
this Agreement is intended by the parties to be that of an independent
contractor and not that of a joint venturer, partner or agent; provided,
however, that the RMBS Master Servicer is authorized and empowered by the
Indenture Trustee, on behalf of the Noteholders and the Indenture Trustee, in
its own name or in the name of any Subservicer, when the RMBS Master Servicer or
such Subservicer, as the case may be, believes it is appropriate in its best
judgment to register any Mortgage Loan on the MERS(R) System, or cause the
removal from the registration of any Mortgage Loan on the MERS(R) System, to
execute and deliver, on behalf of the Indenture Trustee and the Noteholders or
any of them, any and all instruments of assignment and other comparable
instruments with respect to such assignment or re- recording of a Mortgage in
the name of MERS, solely as nominee for the Indenture Trustee and its successors
and assigns. Any expenses incurred in connection with the actions described in
the preceding sentence shall be borne by the RMBS Master Servicer in accordance
with Section 3.15, with no right of reimbursement; provided, that if, as a
result of MERS discontinuing or becoming unable to continue operations in
connection with the MERS System, it becomes necessary to remove any Mortgage
Loan from registration on the MERS System and to arrange for the assignment of
the related Mortgages to the Indenture Trustee, then any related expenses shall
be reimbursable to the RMBS Master Servicer from the Trust Estate.
(b) The RMBS Master Servicer may not consent to the placing of a
lien senior to that of the Mortgage on the related Mortgaged Property.
(c) The RMBS Master Servicer or the related Subservicer, as the
case may be, shall be entitled to (A) execute assumption agreements,
substitution agreements, and instruments of satisfaction or cancellation or of
full release or discharge, or any other document contemplated by this Servicing
Agreement and other comparable instruments with respect to the Mortgage Loans
and with respect to the Mortgaged Properties subject to the Mortgages (and the
Issuer and the Indenture Trustee each shall promptly execute any such documents
on request of the RMBS Master Servicer and prepared by it) and (B) approve the
granting of an easement thereon in favor of another Person, any alteration or
demolition of the related Mortgaged Property or other similar matters, if it has
determined, exercising its good faith business judgment in the same manner as it
would if it were the owner of the related Mortgage Loan, that the security for,
and the timely and full collectability of, such Mortgage Loan would not be
adversely affected thereby. An assumption pursuant to this Section 3.01 is
permitted solely if the creditworthiness of the prospective purchaser of a
Mortgaged Property meets the same or better underwriting guidelines as those
which were applied to the original borrower and the security for such Mortgage
Loan is not impaired by the assumption. Any fee collected by the RMBS Master
Servicer or the related Subservicer for processing such request will be retained
by the RMBS Master Servicer or such Subservicer as additional servicing
compensation.
(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection 3.01(a), the RMBS
Master Servicer shall not take any action inconsistent with the interests of the
Indenture Trustee or the Noteholders or with the rights and interests of the
Indenture Trustee or the Noteholders under this Servicing Agreement.
(e) The Indenture Trustee shall execute and return to the RMBS
Master Servicer any limited powers of attorney and other documents in form as
provided to the Indenture Trustee
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necessary or appropriate to enable the RMBS Master Servicer to service and
administer the related Mortgage Loans and REO Property.
Section 3.02 Subservicing Agreements Between RMBS Master Servicer and
Subservicers. (a) The RMBS Master Servicer may enter into Subservicing
Agreements with Subservicers for the servicing and administration of the
Mortgage Loans and for the performance of any and all other activities of the
RMBS Master Servicer hereunder. Each Subservicer shall be either (i) an
institution the accounts of which are insured by the FDIC or (ii) another entity
that engages in the business of originating or servicing mortgage loans
comparable to the Mortgage Loans, and in either case shall be authorized to
transact business in the state or states in which the related Mortgaged
Properties it is to service are situated, if and to the extent required by
applicable law to enable the Subservicer to perform its obligations hereunder
and under the related Subservicing Agreement, and in either case shall be a
Xxxxxxx Mac or Xxxxxx Mae approved mortgage servicer. Any Subservicing Agreement
entered into by the RMBS Master Servicer shall include the provision that such
Agreement may be immediately terminated with or without cause and without the
payment of any termination fee by any successor RMBS Master Servicer (including,
without limitation, the Indenture Trustee as successor RMBS Master Servicer)
under this Servicing Agreement. In addition, each Subservicing Agreement shall
provide for servicing of the Mortgage Loans consistent with the terms of this
Servicing Agreement. The RMBS Master Servicer and the Subservicers may enter
into Subservicing Agreements and make amendments to the Subservicing Agreements
or enter into different forms of Subservicing Agreements providing for, among
other things, the delegation by the RMBS Master Servicer to a Subservicer of
additional duties regarding the administration of the Mortgage Loans; provided,
however, that any such amendments or different forms shall be consistent with
and not violate the provisions of this Servicing Agreement, and that no such
amendment or different form shall be made or entered into which could be
reasonably expected to be materially adverse to the interests of the
Noteholders, without the consent of the Holders of Notes representing not less
than a majority of the aggregate Note Principal Balance of each Class of the
Notes affected thereby.
(b) As part of its servicing activities hereunder, the RMBS Master
Servicer, for the benefit of the Indenture Trustee and the Noteholders, shall
enforce the obligations of each Subservicer under the related Subservicing
Agreement. Such enforcement, including, without limitation, the legal
prosecution of claims, termination of Subservicing Agreements and the pursuit of
other appropriate remedies, shall be in such form and carried out to such an
extent and at such time as the RMBS Master Servicer, in its good faith business
judgment, would require were it the owner of the related Mortgage Loans. The
RMBS Master Servicer shall pay the costs of such enforcement at its own expense,
but shall be reimbursed therefor only (i) from a general recovery resulting from
such enforcement only to the extent, if any, that such recovery exceeds all
amounts due in respect of the related Mortgage Loan or (ii) from a specific
recovery of costs, expenses or attorneys' fees against the party against whom
such enforcement is directed.
Section 3.03 Successor Subservicers. The RMBS Master Servicer shall be
entitled to terminate any Subservicing Agreement that may exist in accordance
with the terms and conditions of such Subservicing Agreement subject to the
terms of Section 3.02(a) of this Servicing Agreement; provided, however, that
upon termination, the RMBS Master Servicer shall either act as servicer of the
related Mortgage Loan or enter into an appropriate contract with a successor
Subservicer and in conformance with the terms of Section 3.02(a) of this
Servicing Agreement pursuant to which such
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successor Subservicer will be bound by all relevant terms of the related
Subservicing Agreement and this Servicing Agreement pertaining to the servicing
of such Mortgage Loan.
Section 3.04 Liability of the RMBS Master Servicer. (a) Notwithstanding
any Subservicing Agreement, any of the provisions of this Servicing Agreement
relating to agreements or arrangements between the RMBS Master Servicer and a
Subservicer or reference to actions taken through a Subservicer or otherwise,
the RMBS Master Servicer shall under all circumstances remain obligated and
primarily liable to the Indenture Trustee, the Noteholders and the
Certificateholders for the servicing and administering of the Mortgage Loans and
any REO Property in accordance with this Servicing Agreement. The obligations
and liability of the RMBS Master Servicer shall not be diminished by virtue of
Subservicing Agreements or by virtue of indemnification of the RMBS Master
Servicer by any Subservicer, or any other Person. The obligations and liability
of the RMBS Master Servicer shall remain of the same nature and under the same
terms and conditions as if the RMBS Master Servicer alone were servicing and
administering the related Mortgage Loans. The RMBS Master Servicer shall,
however, be entitled to enter into indemnification agreements with any
Subservicer or other Person and nothing in this Servicing Agreement shall be
deemed to limit or modify such indemnification. For the purposes of this
Servicing Agreement, the RMBS Master Servicer shall be deemed to have received
any payment on a Mortgage Loan on the date the Subservicer received such
payment; provided, however, that this sentence shall not apply to the Indenture
Trustee as the successor RMBS Master Servicer; provided, further, however, that
the foregoing provision shall not affect the obligation of the RMBS Master
Servicer if it is also the Indenture Trustee to advance amounts which are not
Nonrecoverable Advances.
Any Subservicing Agreement that may be entered into and any
transactions or services relating to the Mortgage Loans involving a Subservicer
in its capacity as such shall be deemed to be between the Subservicer and the
RMBS Master Servicer alone, and the Indenture Trustee and the Noteholders shall
not be deemed parties thereto and shall have no claims, rights, obligations,
duties or liabilities with respect to the Subservicer except as set forth in
Section 3.05.
Section 3.05 Assumption or Termination of Subservicing Agreements by
Indenture Trustee. (a) If the Indenture Trustee or a successor RMBS Master
Servicer shall assume the servicing obligations of the RMBS Master Servicer in
accordance with Section 6.02 below, the Indenture Trustee, to the extent
necessary to permit the Indenture Trustee to carry out the provisions of Section
6.02 with respect to the Mortgage Loans, shall succeed to all of the rights and
obligations of the RMBS Master Servicer under each of the Subservicing
Agreements. In such event, the Indenture Trustee or its designee as the
successor master servicer shall be deemed to have assumed all of the RMBS Master
Servicer's rights and obligations therein and to have replaced the RMBS Master
Servicer as a party to such Subservicing Agreements to the same extent as if
such Subservicing Agreements had been assigned to the Indenture Trustee or its
designee as a successor master servicer, except that the Indenture Trustee or
its designee as a successor master servicer shall not be deemed to have assumed
any obligations or liabilities of the RMBS Master Servicer arising prior to such
assumption (other than the obligation to make any Monthly Advances) and the RMBS
Master Servicer shall not thereby be relieved of any liability or obligations
under such Subservicing Agreements arising prior to such assumption. Nothing in
the foregoing shall be deemed to entitle the Indenture Trustee or its designee
as a successor master servicer at any time to receive any portion
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of the servicing compensation provided under Section 3.15 except for such
portion as the RMBS Master Servicer would be entitled to receive.
(b) In the event that the Indenture Trustee or a successor RMBS
Master Servicer assumes the servicing obligations of the RMBS Master Servicer
under Section 6.02, upon the reasonable request of the Indenture Trustee or such
successor RMBS Master Servicer, the RMBS Master Servicer shall at its own
expense (or the expense of the Trust, if the RMBS Master Servicer fails to do
so) deliver to the Indenture Trustee, or to such successor RMBS Master Servicer,
photocopies of all documents, files and records, electronic or otherwise,
relating to the Subservicing Agreements and the related Mortgage Loans or REO
Property then being serviced and an accounting of amounts collected and held by
it, if any, and will otherwise cooperate and use its reasonable efforts to
effect the orderly and efficient transfer of the Subservicing Agreements, or
responsibilities hereunder to the Indenture Trustee, or to such successor RMBS
Master Servicer.
Section 3.06 Collection of Mortgage Loan Payments. (a) The RMBS Master
Servicer will coordinate and monitor remittances by Subservicers to it with
respect to the Mortgage Loans in accordance with this Servicing Agreement.
(b) The RMBS Master Servicer shall make its best reasonable
efforts to collect or cause to be collected all payments required under the
terms and provisions of the Mortgage Loans and shall follow, and use its best
reasonable efforts to cause Subservicers to follow, collection procedures
comparable to the collection procedures of prudent mortgage lenders servicing
mortgage loans for their own account to the extent such procedures shall be
consistent with this Servicing Agreement. Consistent with the foregoing, the
RMBS Master Servicer or the related Subservicer may in its discretion (i) waive
or permit to be waived any late payment charge, prepayment charge, assumption
fee, or any penalty interest in connection with the prepayment of a Mortgage
Loan and (ii) suspend or reduce or permit to be suspended or reduced regular
monthly payments for a period of up to six months, or arrange or permit an
arrangement with a Mortgagor for a scheduled liquidation of delinquencies;
provided, however, that the RMBS Master Servicer or the related Subservicer may
permit the foregoing only if it believes, in good faith, that recoveries of
Monthly Payments will be maximized; provided further, however, that Monthly
Payments may not be suspended during the twelve months prior to the final
maturity of the Notes. In the event the RMBS Master Servicer or related
Subservicer shall consent to the deferment of the due dates for payments due on
a Mortgage Note, the RMBS Master Servicer shall nonetheless make a Monthly
Advance or shall cause the related Subservicer to make a Monthly Advance to the
same extent as if such installment were due, owing and delinquent and had not
been deferred through liquidation of the Mortgaged Property; provided, however,
that the obligation of the RMBS Master Servicer or the related Subservicer to
make a Monthly Advance shall apply only to the extent that the RMBS Master
Servicer believes, in good faith, that such advances are not Nonrecoverable
Advances.
(c) Within five Business Days after the RMBS Master Servicer has
determined that all amounts which it expects to recover from or on account of a
Mortgage Loan have been recovered and that no further Liquidation Proceeds will
be received in connection therewith, the RMBS Master Servicer shall cause the
related Subservicer to provide to the RMBS Master Servicer a certificate of a
Servicing Officer that such Mortgage Loan became a Liquidated Mortgage Loan as
of the date of
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such determination. The RMBS Master Servicer shall provide to the Indenture
Trustee a monthly summary of each Mortgage Loan that became a Liquidated
Mortgage Loan.
(d) The RMBS Master Servicer shall establish a segregated account
in the name of the Indenture Trustee for the benefit of the Noteholders (the
"Collection Account"), which shall be an Eligible Account, in which the RMBS
Master Servicer shall deposit or cause to be deposited any amounts representing
payments on and any collections in respect of the Mortgage Loans due subsequent
to the Cut-off Date (other than in respect of the payments referred to in the
following paragraph) within forty-eight (48) hours following receipt thereof (or
otherwise on or prior to the Closing Date), including the following payments and
collections received or made by it (without duplication):
(i) all payments of principal, including Principal
Prepayments, of or interest on the Mortgage Loans (including advances
by a Subservicer) received by the RMBS Master Servicer directly from
Mortgagors or from the respective Subservicer;
(ii) the aggregate Repurchase Price of the Mortgage Loans
purchased by the RMBS Master Servicer pursuant to Section 3.18;
(iii) Net Liquidation Proceeds;
(iv) all proceeds of any Mortgage Loans repurchased by the
Seller pursuant to the Mortgage Loan Purchase Agreement, and all
Substitution Adjustment Amounts required to be deposited in connection
with the substitution of an Eligible Substitute Mortgage Loan pursuant
to the Mortgage Loan Purchase Agreement;
(v) Insurance Proceeds, other than Net Liquidation
Proceeds, resulting from any insurance policy maintained on a Mortgaged
Property;
(vi) any Monthly Advance and any Compensating Interest
payments; and
(vii) any other amounts received by the RMBS Master
Servicer, including any fees or penalties not retained by a
Subservicer, required to be deposited in the Collection Account
pursuant to this Servicing Agreement.
provided, however, that with respect to each Due Period, the RMBS Master
Servicer shall be permitted to retain from payments in respect of interest on
the Mortgage Loans, the RMBS Master Servicing Fee for such Due Period. The
foregoing requirements respecting deposits to the Collection Account are
exclusive, it being understood that, without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, the RMBS Master Servicer need not deposit in the Collection Account
fees (including annual fees or assumption fees) or late charge and prepayment
penalties, payable by Mortgagors, each as further described in Section 3.15, or
amounts received by the Subservicer for the accounts of Mortgagors for
application towards the payment of taxes, insurance premiums, assessments and
similar items, which amounts shall be deposited in the related Servicing Account
pursuant to Section 3.08. In the event any amount not required to be deposited
in the Collection Account is so deposited, the RMBS Master Servicer may at any
time (prior to being terminated under this Agreement) withdraw such
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amount from the Collection Account, any provision herein to the contrary
notwithstanding. The RMBS Master Servicer shall keep records that accurately
reflect the funds on deposit in the Collection Account that have been identified
by it as being attributable to the Mortgage Loans and shall hold all collections
in the Collection Account for the benefit of the Owner Trustee, the Indenture
Trustee and the Noteholders, as their interests may appear. The RMBS Master
Servicer shall remit all Foreclosure Profits to the Collection Account, to the
extent not payable to the related Subservicer.
Funds in the Collection Account may not be invested with, and shall not
be commingled with, the RMBS Master Servicer's own funds or general assets or
with funds respecting payments on mortgage loans or with any other funds not
related to the Notes. Funds in the Collection Account shall be invested solely
in Eligible Investments, designated in the name of the Indenture Trustee for the
benefit of the Noteholders, which shall mature not later than the Business Day
next preceding the RMBS Master Servicer Remittance Date next following the date
of such investment and shall not be sold or disposed of prior to maturity. All
income and gain realized from any such investment shall be for the benefit of
the RMBS Master Servicer or the related Subservicer. The amount of any losses
incurred with respect to any such investments shall be deposited in the
Collection Account by the RMBS Master Servicer.
In the event the Indenture Trustee assumes the responsibilities of the
RMBS Master Servicer under this Servicing Agreement upon a Servicing Default
under Section 6.01, the Indenture Trustee shall be entitled to reimburse itself
for Monthly Advances pursuant to Sections 3.07(a)(v), (viii) and (ix) prior to
reimbursement of the terminated RMBS Master Servicer or any successor RMBS
Master Servicer.
(e) The RMBS Master Servicer will require each Subservicer to hold
all funds constituting collections on the Mortgage Loans, pending remittance
thereof to the RMBS Master Servicer, in one or more accounts meeting the
requirements of an Eligible Account, and invested in Eligible Investments, and
in the name of the Indenture Trustee for the benefit of the Noteholders. The
related Subservicer shall segregate and hold all funds collected and received
pursuant to each Mortgage Loan separate and apart from any of its own funds and
general assets and any other funds.
Section 3.07 Withdrawals from the Collection Account. (a) The RMBS
Master Servicer shall, from time to time as provided herein, make withdrawals
from the Collection Account of amounts on deposit therein pursuant to Section
3.06 that are attributable to the Mortgage Loans for the following purposes
(without duplication):
(i) to deposit in the Payment Account, by the RMBS Master
Servicer Remittance Date, the Available Funds required to be
distributed as provided in the Indenture on a Payment Date;
(ii) to the extent deposited to the Collection Account, to
reimburse itself or the related Subservicer for previously unreimbursed
expenses incurred in maintaining individual insurance policies pursuant
to Sections 3.10 or 3.11, or Liquidation Expenses, paid pursuant to
Section 3.13 or otherwise reimbursable pursuant to the terms of this
Servicing Agreement, such withdrawal right being limited to amounts
received on the related Mortgage Loans
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(other than any Repurchase Price in respect thereto) which represent
late recoveries of the payments for which such advances were made, or
from related Liquidation Proceeds;
(iii) to pay to itself out of each payment received on
account of interest on a Mortgage Loan as contemplated by Section 3.15,
an amount equal to the related RMBS Master Servicing Fee (to the extent
not retained pursuant to Section 3.06);
(iv) to pay to itself or the Seller, with respect to any
Mortgage Loan or property acquired in respect thereof that has been
purchased or otherwise transferred to the Seller, the RMBS Master
Servicer or other entity, all amounts received thereon and not required
to be distributed to Noteholders as of the date on which the related
Purchase Price or Repurchase Price is determined;
(v) to reimburse the RMBS Master Servicer or any
Subservicer for any Monthly Advance of its own funds or any advance of
such Subservicer's own funds, the right of the RMBS Master Servicer or
a Subservicer to reimbursement pursuant to this subclause (v) being
limited to amounts received (including, for this purpose, the
Repurchase Price therefor, Insurance Proceeds and Liquidation Proceeds)
which represent late payments or recoveries of the principal of or
interest on such Mortgage Loan respecting which such Monthly Advance or
advance was made;
(vi) to reimburse the RMBS Master Servicer or any
Subservicer from Insurance Proceeds or Liquidation Proceeds relating to
a particular Mortgage Loan for amounts expended by the RMBS Master
Servicer or such Subservicer pursuant to Section 3.13 in good faith in
connection with the restoration of the related Mortgaged Property which
was damaged by the Uninsured Cause or in connection with the
liquidation of such Mortgage Loan;
(vii) to pay the RMBS Master Servicer or any Subservicer
(payment to any Subservicer to be subject to prior payment to the RMBS
Master Servicer of an amount equal to the RMBS Master Servicing Fee),
as appropriate, from Liquidation Proceeds or Insurance Proceeds
received in connection with the liquidation of any Mortgage Loan, the
amount which it or such Subservicer would have been entitled to receive
under subclause (iii) of this Subsection 3.07(a) as servicing
compensation on account of each defaulted Monthly Payment on such
Mortgage Loan if paid in a timely manner by the related Mortgagor, but
only to the extent that the aggregate of Liquidation Proceeds and
Insurance Proceeds with respect to such Mortgage Loan, after any
reimbursement to the RMBS Master Servicer or any Subservicer, pursuant
to other subclauses of this Subsection 3.07(a), exceeds the outstanding
Stated Principal Balance of such Mortgage Loan plus accrued and unpaid
interest thereon at the related Mortgage Rate less the RMBS Master
Servicing Fee Rate to but not including the date of payment (in any
event, the aggregate amount of servicing compensation received by a
Subservicer and the RMBS Master Servicer with respect to any defaulted
Monthly Payment shall not exceed the applicable RMBS Master Servicing
Fee);
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(viii) to reimburse the RMBS Master Servicer or any
Subservicer for any Nonrecoverable Advance previously made, and not
otherwise reimbursed pursuant to this Subsection 3.07(a);
(ix) to withdraw any other amount deposited in the
Collection Account that was not required to be deposited therein
pursuant to Section 3.06;
(x) to reimburse the RMBS Master Servicer for costs
incurred by it associated with the environmental report specified in
Section 3.13(e); and
(xi) to clear and terminate the Collection Account
following a termination of the Trust pursuant to Section 8.01 of the
Trust Agreement.
In connection with withdrawals pursuant to clauses (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi)
and (vii), the RMBS Master Servicer's entitlement thereto is limited to
collections or other recoveries on the related Mortgage Loan, and the RMBS
Master Servicer shall keep and maintain separate accounting, on a Mortgage Loan
by Mortgage Loan basis, for the purpose of justifying any withdrawal from the
Collection Account pursuant to such clauses. Notwithstanding any other provision
of this Servicing Agreement, the RMBS Master Servicer shall be entitled to
reimburse itself for any previously unreimbursed expenses incurred pursuant to
Section 3.13 or otherwise reimbursable expenses incurred pursuant to the terms
of this Servicing Agreement, but only to the extent of collections or other
recoveries on the related Mortgage Loan.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 3.07, the RMBS
Master Servicer may, but is not required to, allow the Subservicers to deduct
from amounts received by them or from the related account maintained by a
Subservicer, prior to deposit in the Collection Account, any portion to which
such Subservicers are entitled hereunder as servicing compensation (including
income on Eligible Investments) or reimbursement of any reimbursable Monthly
Advances or Servicing Advances made by such Subservicers.
(c) The RMBS Master Servicer shall pay to the Indenture Trustee
interest on any payments to the Payment Account which were due on a RMBS Master
Servicer Remittance Date but were made after the related RMBS Master Servicer
Remittance Date at a rate equal to the federal funds rate from the date due to
the date paid, both inclusive. This interest shall be solely an obligation of
the RMBS Master Servicer and shall not be recoverable by the Indenture Trustee
from the Trust or from any other source.
Section 3.08 Collection of Taxes Assessments and Similar Items;
Servicing Accounts.
(a) The RMBS Master Servicer shall establish and maintain or cause
the related Subservicer to establish and maintain, one or more Servicing
Accounts. The RMBS Master Servicer or a Subservicer will deposit and retain
therein all collections from the Mortgagors for the payment of taxes,
assessments, insurance premiums, or comparable items as agent of the Mortgagors.
(b) The deposits in the Servicing Accounts shall be held in trust
by the RMBS Master Servicer or a Subservicer (and its successors and assigns) in
the name of the Indenture Trustee for
15
the benefit of the Noteholders. Such Servicing Accounts shall be Eligible
Accounts and if permitted by applicable law, invested in Eligible Investments
held in trust by the RMBS Master Servicer or a Subservicer as described above
and maturing, or be subject to redemption or withdrawal, no later than the date
on which such funds are required to be withdrawn, and in no event later than 45
days after the date of investment; withdrawals of amounts from the Servicing
Accounts may be made only to effect timely payment of taxes, assessments,
insurance premiums, or comparable items, to reimburse the RMBS Master Servicer
or a Subservicer for any advances made with respect to such items, to refund to
any Mortgagors any sums as may be determined to be overages, to pay interest, if
required, to Mortgagors on balances in the Servicing Accounts or to clear and
terminate the Servicing Accounts at or any time after the termination of this
Servicing Agreement.
Section 3.09 Access to Certain Documentation and Information Regarding
the Mortgage Loans. The RMBS Master Servicer shall provide, and shall cause any
Subservicer to provide, to the Indenture Trustee and the Owner Trustee access to
the documentation regarding the related Mortgage Loans and REO Property and to
the Noteholders, the FDIC, and the supervisory agents and examiners of the FDIC
access to the documentation regarding the related Mortgage Loans required by
applicable regulations, such access being afforded without charge but only upon
reasonable request and during normal business hours at the offices of the RMBS
Master Servicer or the Subservicers that are designated by these entities;
provided, however, that, unless otherwise required by law, the RMBS Master
Servicer or the Subservicer shall not be required to provide access to such
documentation if the provision thereof would violate the legal right to privacy
of any Mortgagor; provided, further, however, that the Indenture Trustee and the
Owner Trustee shall coordinate their requests for such access so as not to
impose an unreasonable burden on, or cause an unreasonable interruption of, the
business of the RMBS Master Servicer or any Subservicer. The RMBS Master
Servicer and the Subservicers shall allow representatives of the above entities
to photocopy any of the documentation and shall provide equipment for that
purpose at a charge that covers their own actual out-of-pocket costs.
Section 3.10 Maintenance of Primary Insurance Policies; Collection
Thereunder.
(a) The RMBS Master Servicer shall, or shall cause the related
Subservicer to, exercise its best reasonable efforts to maintain and keep in
full force and effect each Primary Insurance Policy by a Qualified Insurer, or
other insurer satisfactory to the Rating Agencies, with respect to each Mortgage
Loan as to which as of the Cut-off Date a Primary Insurance Policy was in effect
and the original principal amount of the related Mortgage Note exceeded 80% of
the Original Value in an amount at least equal to the excess of such original
principal amount over 75% of such Original Value until the principal amount of
any such first lien Mortgage Loan is reduced below 80% of the Original Value or,
based upon a new appraisal, the principal amount of such first lien Mortgage
Loan represents less than 80% of the new appraised value of the related
Mortgaged Property. The RMBS Master Servicer shall, or shall cause the related
Subservicer to, effect the timely payment of the premium on each Primary
Insurance Policy. The RMBS Master Servicer and the related Subservicer shall
have the power to substitute for any Primary Insurance Policy another
substantially equivalent policy issued by another Qualified Insurer, provided,
that, such substitution shall be subject to the condition that it will not cause
the ratings on the Notes to be downgraded or withdrawn, as evidenced by a
writing from each Rating Agency.
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Section 3.11 Maintenance of Hazard Insurance and Fidelity Coverage. (a)
The RMBS Master Servicer shall maintain and keep, or cause each Subservicer to
maintain and keep, with respect to each Mortgage Loan and REO Property, in full
force and effect hazard insurance (fire insurance with extended coverage) equal
to at least the lesser of the Stated Principal Balance of the Mortgage Loan or
the current replacement cost of the related Mortgaged Property, and containing a
standard mortgagee clause, provided, however, that the amount of hazard
insurance may not be less than the amount necessary to prevent loss due to the
application of any co-insurance provision of the related policy. Unless
applicable state law requires a higher deductible, the deductible on such hazard
insurance policy may be no more than $1,000 or 1% of the applicable amount of
coverage, whichever is less. In the case of a condominium unit or a unit in a
planned unit development, the required hazard insurance shall take the form of a
multi-peril policy covering the entire condominium project or planned unit
development, in an amount equal to at least 100% of the insurable value based on
replacement cost.
(b) Any amounts collected by the RMBS Master Servicer or a
Subservicer under any such hazard insurance policy (other than amounts to be
applied to the restoration or repair of the Mortgaged Property or amounts
released to the Mortgagor in accordance with the RMBS Master Servicer's or a
Subservicer's normal servicing procedures, the Mortgage Note, the Security
Instrument or applicable law) shall be deposited initially in a Collection
Account, for transmittal to the Payment Account, subject to withdrawal pursuant
to Section 3.07.
(c) Any cost incurred by a RMBS Master Servicer or a Subservicer
in maintaining any such hazard insurance policy shall not be added to the amount
owing under the Mortgage Loan for the purpose of calculating monthly
distributions to Noteholders, notwithstanding that the terms of the Mortgage
Loan so permit. Such costs shall be recoverable by the RMBS Master Servicer or a
Subservicer out of related late payments by the Mortgagor or out of Insurance
Proceeds or Liquidation Proceeds or by the RMBS Master Servicer from the
Repurchase Price, to the extent permitted by Section 3.07.
(d) No earthquake or other additional insurance is to be required
of any Mortgagor or maintained on property acquired with respect to a Security
Instrument other than pursuant to such applicable laws and regulations as shall
at any time be in force and shall require such additional insurance. When, at
the time of origination of a Mortgage Loan or at any subsequent time, the
Mortgaged Property is located in a federally designated special flood hazard
area, the RMBS Master Servicer shall use its best reasonable efforts to cause
with respect to the related Mortgage Loans and each REO Property flood insurance
(to the extent available and in accordance with mortgage servicing industry
practice) to be maintained. Such flood insurance shall cover the related
Mortgaged Property, including all items taken into account in arriving at the
Appraised Value on which the related Mortgage Loan was based, and shall be in an
amount equal to the lesser of (i) the Stated Principal Balance of the related
Mortgage Loan and (ii) the minimum amount required under the terms of coverage
to compensate for any damage or loss on a replacement cost basis, but not more
than the maximum amount of such insurance available for the related Mortgaged
Property under either the regular or emergency programs of the National Flood
Insurance Program (assuming that the area in which such Mortgaged Property is
located is participating in such program). Unless applicable state law requires
a higher deductible, the deductible on such flood insurance may not exceed
$1,000 or 1% of the applicable amount of coverage, whichever is less.
17
(e) If insurance has not been maintained complying with
Subsections 3.11 (a) and (d) and there shall have been a loss which would have
been covered by such insurance had it been maintained, the RMBS Master Servicer
shall pay, or cause the related Subservicer to pay, for any necessary repairs.
(f) The RMBS Master Servicer shall present, or cause the related
Subservicer to present, claims under any applicable Primary Insurance Policy or
the related hazard insurance or flood insurance policy.
(g) The RMBS Master Servicer shall obtain and maintain at its own
expense and for the duration of this Servicing Agreement and shall cause each
Subservicer to obtain and maintain a blanket fidelity bond and an errors and
omissions insurance policy covering such Person's officers, employees and other
persons acting on its behalf in connection with its activities under this
Servicing Agreement or the related Subservicing Agreement. The amount of
coverage shall be at least equal to the coverage maintained by the RMBS Master
Servicer acceptable to Xxxxxx Xxx or Xxxxxxx Mac to service loans for it or
otherwise in an amount as is commercially available at a cost that is generally
not regarded as excessive by industry standards. The RMBS Master Servicer shall
promptly notify the Indenture Trustee of any material change in the terms of
such bond or policy. The RMBS Master Servicer shall provide annually to the
Indenture Trustee a certificate of insurance that each such bond and policy are
in effect. If any such bond or policy ceases to be in effect, the RMBS Master
Servicer shall, to the extent possible, give the Indenture Trustee ten days'
notice prior to any such cessation and the RMBS Master Servicer shall use its
reasonable best efforts to obtain a comparable replacement bond or policy, as
the case may be. Any amounts relating to the Mortgage Loans collected under each
such bond or policy shall be deposited initially in a Collection Account for
transmittal to the Payment Account, subject to withdrawal pursuant to Section
3.07.
Section 3.12 Due-on-Sale Clauses; Assumption Agreements. (a) In any
case in which the RMBS Master Servicer is notified by any Mortgagor or
Subservicer that a Mortgaged Property relating to a Mortgage Loan has been or is
about to be conveyed by the Mortgagor, the RMBS Master Servicer shall enforce,
or shall instruct such Subservicer to enforce, any due-on-sale clause contained
in the related Security Instrument to the extent permitted under the terms of
the related Mortgage Note and by applicable law. The RMBS Master Servicer or the
related Subservicer may repurchase a Mortgage Loan at the Repurchase Price when
the RMBS Master Servicer requires acceleration of the Mortgage Loan, but only if
the RMBS Master Servicer is satisfied, as evidenced by an Officer's Certificate
delivered to the Indenture Trustee, that either (i) such Mortgage Loan is in
default or default is reasonably foreseeable or (ii) if such Mortgage Loan is
not in default or default is not reasonably foreseeable, such repurchase will
have no adverse tax consequences for the Trust Estate or any Securityholder. If
the RMBS Master Servicer reasonably believes that such due- on-sale clause
cannot be enforced under applicable law or if the Mortgage Loan does not contain
a due-on-sale clause, the RMBS Master Servicer is authorized, and may authorize
any Subservicer, to consent to a conveyance subject to the lien of the Mortgage,
and to take or enter into an assumption agreement from or with the Person to
whom such property has been or is about to be conveyed, pursuant to which such
Person becomes liable under the related Mortgage Note and unless prohibited by
applicable state law, such Mortgagor remains liable thereon, on condition,
however, that the related Mortgage Loan shall continue to be covered by a hazard
policy and (if so covered before the RMBS Master Servicer or the related
Subservicer enters into such agreement) by any
18
Primary Insurance Policy. In connection with any such assumption, no material
term of the related Mortgage Note may be changed. The RMBS Master Servicer shall
forward to the Custodian the original copy of such assumption agreement, which
copy shall be added by the Custodian to the related Mortgage File and which
shall, for all purposes, be considered a part of such Mortgage File to the same
extent as all other documents and instruments constituting a part thereof. A
portion, equal to up to 2% of the Stated Principal Balance of the related
Mortgage Loan, of any fee or additional interest collected by the RMBS Master
Servicer or the related Subservicer for consenting in any such conveyance or
entering into any such assumption agreement may be retained by the related
Subservicer as additional servicing compensation.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing paragraph or any other provision
of this Servicing Agreement, the RMBS Master Servicer shall not be deemed to be
in default, breach or any other violation of its obligations hereunder by reason
of any assumption of a Mortgage Loan by operation of law or any conveyance by
the Mortgagor of the related Mortgaged Property or assumption of a Mortgage Loan
which the RMBS Master Servicer reasonably believes it may be restricted by law
from preventing, for any reason whatsoever or if the exercise of such right
would impair or threaten to impair any recovery under any applicable insurance
policy.
Section 3.13 Realization Upon Defaulted Mortgage Loans. (a) The RMBS
Master Servicer shall, or shall direct the related Subservicer to, foreclose
upon or otherwise comparably convert the ownership of properties securing any
Mortgage Loans that come into and continue in default and as to which no
satisfactory arrangements can be made for collection of delinquent payments
pursuant to Section 3.06, except that the RMBS Master Servicer shall not, and
shall not direct the related Subservicer to, foreclose upon or otherwise
comparably convert a Mortgaged Property if there is evidence of toxic waste or
other environmental hazards thereon unless the RMBS Master Servicer follows the
procedures in Subsection (e) below.
(b) The RMBS Master Servicer shall foreclose or shall direct the
related Subservicer to foreclose on any Mortgaged Property in the name of the
Trustee for the benefit of the Noteholders.
(c) In connection with such foreclosure or other conversion, the
RMBS Master Servicer in conjunction with the related Subservicer, if any, shall
use its best reasonable efforts to preserve REO Property and to realize upon
defaulted Mortgage Loans in such manner (including short sales) as to maximize
the receipt of principal and interest by the Noteholders, taking into account,
among other things, the timing of foreclosure and the considerations set forth
in Subsection 3.13(d). The foregoing is subject to the proviso that the RMBS
Master Servicer shall not be required to expend its own funds in connection with
any foreclosure or towards the restoration of any property unless it determines
in good faith (i) that such restoration or foreclosure will increase the
proceeds of liquidation of the Mortgage Loan to Noteholders after reimbursement
to itself for such expenses and (ii) that such expenses will be recoverable to
it either through Liquidation Proceeds (respecting which it shall have priority
for purposes of reimbursements from the Collection Account pursuant to Section
3.07) or through Insurance Proceeds (respecting which it shall have similar
priority). The RMBS Master Servicer shall be responsible for all other costs and
expenses incurred by it in any such proceedings; provided, however, that it
shall be entitled to reimbursement thereof (as well as its normal servicing
compensation). Any income from or other funds (net of any income taxes)
19
generated by REO Property shall be deemed for purposes of this Servicing
Agreement to be Insurance Proceeds.
(d) The Trust Estate shall not acquire any real property (or any
personal property incident to such real property) except in connection with a
default or reasonably foreseeable default of a Mortgage Loan. In the event that
the Trust Estate acquires any real property (or personal property incident to
such real property) in connection with a default or imminent default of a
Mortgage Loan, such property shall be disposed of by the RMBS Master Servicer
(or its agent) on behalf of the Trust Estate within two years after its
acquisition by the Trust Estate.
(e) With respect to any Mortgage Loan as to which the RMBS Master
Servicer or a Subservicer has received notice of, or has actual knowledge of,
the presence of any toxic or hazardous substance on the Mortgaged Property, the
RMBS Master Servicer shall promptly notify the Indenture Trustee and the Owner
Trustee and shall act in accordance with any directions and instructions
provided by the Indenture Trustee, as pledgee of the Issuer. If the Indenture
Trustee, as applicable, has not provided directions and instructions to the RMBS
Master Servicer in connection with any such Mortgage Loan within 30 days of a
request by the RMBS Master Servicer for such directions and instructions, then
the RMBS Master Servicer shall take such action as it deems to be in the best
economic interest of the Trust Estate (other than proceeding against the
Mortgaged Property) and is hereby authorized at such time as it deems
appropriate to release such Mortgaged Property from the lien of the related
Mortgage. The parties hereto acknowledge that the RMBS Master Servicer shall not
obtain on behalf of the Issuer a deed as a result or in lieu of foreclosure, and
shall not otherwise acquire possession of or title to, or commence any
proceedings to acquire possession of or title to, or take any other action with
respect to, any Mortgaged Property, if the Owner Trustee or the Indenture
Trustee could reasonably be considered to be a responsible party for any
liability arising from the presence of any toxic or hazardous substance on the
Mortgaged Property, unless the Owner Trustee or the Indenture Trustee has been
indemnified to its reasonable satisfaction against such liability.
Section 3.14 Indenture Trustee to Cooperate; Release of Mortgage Files.
(a) Upon payment in full of any Mortgage Loan or the receipt by the RMBS Master
Servicer of a notification that payment in full will be escrowed in a manner
customary for such purposes, the RMBS Master Servicer will immediately notify
the Custodian by a certification signed by a Servicing Officer in the form of
the request for release (the "Request for Release") attached hereto as Exhibit B
(which certification shall include a statement to the effect that all amounts
received or to be received in connection with such payment which are required to
be deposited in the Payment Account have been so deposited) and shall request
delivery to the RMBS Master Servicer or Subservicer, as the case may be, of the
related Mortgage File. Upon receipt of such certification and request, the
Custodian shall release the related Mortgage File to the RMBS Master Servicer or
Subservicer and execute and deliver to the RMBS Master Servicer, without
recourse, the request for reconveyance, deed of reconveyance or release or
satisfaction of mortgage or such instrument releasing the lien of the Security
Instrument (furnished by the RMBS Master Servicer), together with the Mortgage
Note with written evidence of cancellation thereon. In connection with the
satisfaction of any MOM Loan, the RMBS Master Servicer is authorized to cause
the removal from the registration on the MERS(R) System of such Mortgage.
20
(b) From time to time as is appropriate, for the servicing or
foreclosure of any Mortgage Loan or collection under an insurance policy, the
RMBS Master Servicer may deliver to the Custodian a Request for Release signed
by a Servicing Officer on behalf of the RMBS Master Servicer in substantially
the form attached as Exhibit B hereto. Upon receipt of the Request for Release,
the Custodian, on behalf of the Indenture Trustee shall deliver the Mortgage
File or any document therein to the RMBS Master Servicer or Subservicer, as the
case may be, as bailee for the Indenture Trustee.
(c) The RMBS Master Servicer shall cause each Mortgage File or any
document therein released pursuant to Subsection 3.14(b) to be returned to the
Custodian as custodian for the Indenture Trustee, when the need therefor no
longer exists, and in any event within 21 days of the RMBS Master Servicer's
receipt thereof, unless the Mortgage Loan has become a Liquidated Mortgage Loan
and the Liquidation Proceeds relating to the Mortgage Loan have been deposited
in the Collection Account or such Mortgage File is being used to pursue
foreclosure or other legal proceedings. Prior to return of a Mortgage File or
any document to the Custodian, the RMBS Master Servicer, the related insurer or
Subservicer to whom such file or document was delivered shall retain such file
or document in its respective control as bailee for the Indenture Trustee unless
the Mortgage File or such document has been delivered to an attorney, or to a
public trustee or other public official as required by law, to initiate or
pursue legal action or other proceedings for the foreclosure of the related
Mortgaged Property either judicially or non- judicially, and the RMBS Master
Servicer has delivered to the Custodian a certificate of a Servicing Officer
certifying as to the name and address of the Person to which such Mortgage File
or such document was delivered and the purpose or purposes of such delivery. If
a Mortgage Loan becomes a Liquidated Mortgage Loan, the RMBS Master Servicer
shall deliver the Request for Release with respect thereto to the Custodian and,
upon deposit of the related Liquidation Proceeds in the Collection Account, the
Custodian, on behalf of the Indenture Trustee, shall deliver the related
Mortgage File or any document therein to the RMBS Master Servicer or
Subservicer, as applicable.
(d) The Indenture Trustee shall execute and deliver to the RMBS
Master Servicer any court pleadings, requests for trustee's sale or other
documents prepared for and delivered to the Indenture Trustee for execution
necessary to (i) the foreclosure or trustee's sale with respect to a Mortgaged
Property; (ii) any legal action brought to obtain judgment against any Mortgagor
on the Mortgage Note or Security Instrument; (iii) obtain a deficiency judgment
against the Mortgagor; or (iv) enforce any other rights or remedies provided by
the Mortgage Note or Security Instrument or otherwise available at law or
equity. Together with such documents or pleadings the RMBS Master Servicer shall
deliver to the Indenture Trustee a certificate of a Servicing Officer in which
it requests the Indenture Trustee to execute the pleadings or documents. The
Indenture Trustee and any officer, director, employee or agent of the Indenture
Trustee may rely in good faith on any such document submitted by the RMBS Master
Servicer. The certificate shall certify and explain the reasons for which the
pleadings or documents are required. It shall further certify that the Indenture
Trustee's execution and delivery of the pleadings or documents will not
invalidate any insurance coverage under the insurance policies or invalidate or
otherwise affect the lien of the Security Instrument, except for the termination
of such a lien upon completion of the foreclosure or trustee's sale.
Section 3.15 Master Servicing Compensation. (a) As compensation for its
activities hereunder, the RMBS Master Servicer shall be entitled to receive the
RMBS Master Servicing Fee
21
from full payments of accrued interest on each Mortgage Loan or as otherwise
provided in Section 3.07. The RMBS Master Servicer shall be solely responsible
for paying any and all fees with respect to a Subservicer and the Trust Estate
shall not bear any fees, expenses or other costs directly associated with any
Subservicer.
(b) The RMBS Master Servicer or the related Subservicer may retain
additional servicing compensation in the form of prepayment charges, if any, a
portion of the assumption fees up to 2% of the Stated Principal Balance of the
related Mortgage Loan, tax service fees, fees for statement of account or
payoff, late payment charges, or otherwise, to the extent such fees are
collected from the related Mortgagors or, with respect to a Liquidated Mortgage
Loan, to the extent such fees have accrued. The RMBS Master Servicer shall be
required to pay all expenses it incurs in connection with servicing activities
under this Servicing Agreement and shall not be entitled in connection with
servicing activities under this Servicing Agreement to reimbursement except as
provided in this Servicing Agreement. Expenses to be paid by the RMBS Master
Servicer under this Subsection 3.15(b) shall include payment of the expenses of
the accountants retained pursuant to Section 3.17.
Section 3.16 Annual Statements of Compliance. No later than March 15 of
each year, commencing in March 2005, the RMBS Master Servicer at its own expense
shall deliver to the Indenture Trustee, with a copy to the Rating Agencies, an
Officer's Certificate stating, as to the signer thereof, that (i) a review of
the activities of the RMBS Master Servicer during the preceding calendar year
and of performance under this Servicing Agreement has been made under such
officer's supervision, (ii) to the best of such officer's knowledge, based on
such review, the RMBS Master Servicer has fulfilled all its obligations under
this Servicing Agreement for such year, or, if there has been a default in the
fulfillment of any such obligation, specifying each such default known to such
officer and the nature and status thereof including the steps being taken by the
RMBS Master Servicer to remedy such default; (iii) a review of the activities of
each Subservicer during the Subservicer's most recently ended calendar year on
or prior to December 31 of the preceding year and its performance under its
Subservicing Agreement has been made under such officer's supervision; and (iv)
to the best of the Servicing Officer's knowledge, based on his review and the
certification of an officer of the Subservicer (unless the Servicing Officer has
reason to believe that reliance on such certification is not justified), either
each Subservicer has performed and fulfilled its duties, responsibilities and
obligations under this Servicing Agreement and its Subservicing Agreement in all
material respects throughout the year, or, if there has been a default in
performance or fulfillment of any such duties, responsibilities or obligations,
specifying the nature and status of each such default known to the Servicing
Officer. Copies of such statements shall be provided by the RMBS Master Servicer
to the Noteholders upon request or by the Indenture Trustee at the expense of
the RMBS Master Servicer should the RMBS Master Servicer fail to provide such
copies.
Section 3.17 Annual Independent Public Accountants' Servicing Report.
(a) No later than March 15 of each year, commencing in March 2005, the RMBS
Master Servicer, at its expense, shall cause a firm of independent public
accountants which is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public
Accountants and which is Deloitte & Touche LLP (or a successor thereof) to
furnish a statement to the RMBS Master Servicer, which will be provided to the
Indenture Trustee and the Rating Agencies, to the effect that, in connection
with the firm's examination of the RMBS Master Servicer's financial statements
as of the end of the preceding calendar year, nothing came to their attention
that indicated that the RMBS Master Servicer was not in compliance with this
Agreement,
22
including Sections 3.06, 3.07 and 3.08 except for (i) such exceptions as such
firm believes to be immaterial and (ii) such other exceptions as are set forth
in such statement.
(b) No later than March 15 of each year, commencing in March 2005,
the RMBS Master Servicer, at its expense, shall or shall cause each Subservicer
to cause a nationally recognized firm of independent certified public
accountants to furnish to the RMBS Master Servicer or such Subservicer a report
stating that (i) it has obtained a letter of representation regarding certain
matters from the management of the RMBS Master Servicer or such Subservicer
which includes an assertion that the RMBS Master Servicer or such Subservicer
has complied with certain minimum mortgage loan servicing standards (to the
extent applicable to residential mortgage loans) identified in the Uniform
Single Attestation Program for Mortgage Bankers established by the Mortgage
Bankers Association of America with respect to the servicing of first lien
conventional single family mortgage loans during the most recently completed
calendar year and (ii) on the basis of an examination conducted by such firm in
accordance with standards established by the American Institute of Certified
Public Accountants, such representation is fairly stated in all material
respects, subject to such exceptions and other qualifications that may be
appropriate. Immediately upon receipt of such report, the RMBS Master Servicer
shall or shall cause each Subservicer to furnish a copy of such report to the
Indenture Trustee and the Rating Agencies. Any annual independent public
accountants' report furnished pursuant to this Section 3.17 shall be in such
form as shall permit such report to be filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission as part of the Issuer's annual report on Form 10-K filed pursuant to
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and no such annual independent
public accountant's report shall contain any language restricting, limiting or
prohibiting such use of such report.
Section 3.18 Optional Purchase of Defaulted Mortgage Loans. The RMBS
Master Servicer may, on behalf of the Issuer, but is not obligated to,
repurchase from the Issuer any Mortgage Loan delinquent in payment for a period
of 90 days or longer (a "90-Day Delinquent Mortgage Loan") for a price equal to
the Repurchase Price. Any such 90-Day Delinquent Mortgage Loan shall only be
eligible for purchase pursuant to this Section during the period beginning on
the first Business Day of the Calendar Quarter following the Calendar Quarter in
which such Mortgage Loan became a 90- Day Delinquent Mortgage Loan, and ending
at the close of business on the second-to-last Business Day of such following
Calendar Quarter. Such option if not exercised shall not thereafter be
reinstated as to any Mortgage Loan, unless the delinquency is cured and the
Mortgage Loan thereafter again becomes delinquent in payment by 90 days or more
in a subsequent Calendar Quarter. Any such purchase shall be accomplished as
provided in Subsection 2.03 hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Indenture
Trustee, whether acting as Indenture Trustee or in the capacity of successor
RMBS Master Servicer, shall have no obligation hereunder or under any other
Basic Document to repurchase any Mortgage Loan.
Section 3.19 Information Required by the Internal Revenue Service
Generally and Reports of Foreclosures and Abandonments of Mortgaged Property.
The RMBS Master Servicer shall prepare and deliver all federal and state
information reports when and as required by all applicable state and federal
income tax laws. In particular, with respect to the requirement under Section
6050J of the Code to the effect that the RMBS Master Servicer or a Subservicer
shall make reports of foreclosures and abandonments of any mortgaged property
for each year beginning in 2004, the RMBS Master Servicer or Subservicer shall
file reports relating to each instance occurring during
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the previous calendar year in which the RMBS Master Servicer or such Subservicer
(i) acquires an interest in any Mortgaged Property through foreclosure or other
comparable conversion in full or partial satisfaction of a Mortgage Loan, or
(ii) knows or has reason to know that any Mortgaged Property has been abandoned.
The reports from the RMBS Master Servicer or Subservicer shall be in form and
substance sufficient to meet the reporting requirements imposed by Section
6050J, Section 6050H (reports relating to mortgage interest received) and
Section 6050P of the Code (reports relating to cancellation of indebtedness).
Section 3.20 Fair Credit Reporting Act. The RMBS Master Servicer, in
its capacity as RMBS master servicer for each Mortgage Loan, agrees to fully
furnish in accordance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act and its implementing
regulations, accurate and complete information (e.g., favorable and unfavorable)
on its borrower credit files to Equifax, Experian and Trans Union Credit
Information Company (three of the credit reporsitories), on a monthly basis.
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ARTICLE IV
Servicing Certificate
Section 4.01 Remittance Reports. On or prior to each Determination
Date, the RMBS Master Servicer shall deliver to the Indenture Trustee a report,
prepared as of the close of business on the Determination Date (the "Remittance
Report"), in the form of a disk or such other electronic method as to which the
RMBS Master Servicer and Indenture Trustee shall agree and containing the
information set forth on Exhibit D. The Remittance Report and any written
information supplemental thereto shall include such information with respect to
the Mortgage Loans that is reasonably available to the RMBS Master Servicer and
that is required by the Indenture Trustee for purposes of making the
calculations and providing the reports referred to in the Indenture, as set
forth in written specifications or guidelines issued by the Indenture Trustee
from time to time.
In addition, prior to each Payment Date, the RMBS Master Servicer shall
determine the total amount of Realized Losses, if any, that resulted from any
Cash Liquidation, Debt Service Reduction, Deficient Valuation or REO Disposition
that occurred during the related Prepayment Period. The amount of each Realized
Loss shall be evidenced by an Officer's Certificate delivered to the Indenture
Trustee with the related Remittance Report.
The determination by the RMBS Master Servicer of such amounts shall, in
the absence of obvious error, be presumptively deemed to be correct for all
purposes hereunder and the Owner Trustee and Indenture Trustee shall be
protected in relying upon the same without any independent check or
verification. The Indenture Trustee shall have no obligation to recompute,
recalculate or verify any information provided to it by the RMBS Master
Servicer.
Section 4.02 Reserved.
Section 4.03 Reserved.
Section 4.04 Advances. If any Monthly Payment on a Mortgage Loan that
was due on the immediately preceding Due Date or due during the related Due
Period and delinquent on a Determination Date is delinquent other than as a
result of application of the Relief Act, the RMBS Master Servicer will deposit
in the Collection Account not later than the related RMBS Master Servicer
Remittance Date an amount equal to such Monthly Payment net of the related RMBS
Master Servicing Fee for such Mortgage Loan, except to the extent the RMBS
Master Servicer or the related Subservicer determines any such advance to be
nonrecoverable from Liquidation Proceeds, Insurance Proceeds or future payments
on any Mortgage Loan. Subject to the foregoing and in the absence of such a
determination, the RMBS Master Servicer shall continue to make such advances
through the date that the related Mortgaged Property or REO Property has, in the
judgment of the RMBS Master Servicer, been completely liquidated. No later than
the fourth Business Day preceding each Payment Date, the RMBS Master Servicer
shall present an Officer's Certificate to the Indenture Trustee with respect to
the Mortgage Loans, (i) stating that the RMBS Master Servicer elects not to make
a Monthly Advance in a stated amount and (ii) detailing the reason it deems the
advance to be a Nonrecoverable Advance. The RMBS Master Servicer will include in
the
25
Remittance Report a list of each Mortgage Loan for which it does not make a
Monthly Advance in accordance with this Section.
Such Monthly Advances may be made in whole or in part from funds in the
Collection Account being held for future distribution or withdrawal on or in
connection with Payment Dates in subsequent months. Any funds being held for
future distribution to Securityholders and so used shall be replaced by the RMBS
Master Servicer from its own funds by deposit in the Collection Account on or
before the fourth Business Day preceding any Payment Date to the extent that
funds in the Collection Account with respect to such Payment Date shall be less
than payments to Securityholders required to be made on such date.
Section 4.05 Compensating Interest Payments. The RMBS Master Servicer
shall deposit in the Collection Account not later than the RMBS Master Servicer
Remittance Date an amount equal to the Compensating Interest for the related
Determination Date. The RMBS Master Servicer shall not be entitled to any
reimbursement of any Compensating Interest payment.
Section 4.06 Exchange Act Reporting. (a) The Indenture Trustee and the
RMBS Master Servicer shall reasonably cooperate with the Issuer and the
Depositor in connection with the Trust's satisfying the reporting requirements
under the Exchange Act. The Indenture Trustee shall prepare on behalf of the
Trust any Forms 8-K, or other comparable Form containing the same or comparable
information or other information mutually agreed upon, (other than the initial
report on Form 8-K) and 10-K customary for similar securities as required by the
Exchange Act and the Rules and Regulations of the Commission thereunder, and the
Depositor shall sign (or shall cause another entity acceptable to the Commission
to sign) and the Indenture Trustee shall file (via the Commission's Electronic
Data Gathering and Retrieval System) such forms on behalf of the Depositor or
Issuer (or such other entity). The Depositor and the Issuer hereby grant to the
Indenture Trustee a limited power of attorney to execute any Form 8-K and file
each such document on behalf of the Depositor and the Issuer. Such power of
attorney shall continue until the earlier of (i) receipt by the Indenture
Trustee from the Depositor and the Issuer of written termination of such power
of attorney and (ii) the termination of the Trust. Notwithstanding anything
herein or in the Indenture to the contrary, the Depositor, and not the Indenture
Trustee, shall be responsible for executing each Form 10-K filed on behalf of
the Trust.
(b) The Depositor shall prepare and file or cause to be prepared
and filed the initial current report on Form 8-K for the Issuer. Each Form 8-K
thereafter shall be filed by the Indenture Trustee within 15 days after each
Distribution Date, with a copy of the statement to the Certificateholders for
such Distribution Date as an exhibit thereto. If expressly instructed in writing
by the Depositor, the Indenture Trustee shall, in accordance with industry
standards, prepare and deliver to the Depositor for execution a Form 15
Suspension Notice with respect to the Issuer. Prior to (unless and until a Form
15 Suspension Notice shall have been filed) March 30th of each year (or such
earlier date as may be required or permitted by the Exchange Act and the Rules
and Regulations of the Commission), the Indenture Trustee shall file a Form
10-K, in substance as required by applicable law or applicable Commission
staff's interpretations. The Indenture Trustee shall prepare the Form 10-K and
provide the Depositor with the Form 10-K no later than March 25th of each year.
The Depositor shall execute such Form 10-K upon its receipt and shall provide
the original of such executed Form 10-K to the Indenture Trustee no later than
March 27th of each year. Such Form 10-K
26
shall include as exhibits the RMBS Master Servicer's annual statement of
compliance described under Section 3.16 and the accountant's report described
under Section 3.17, in each case to the extent they have been timely delivered
to the Indenture Trustee. If they are not so timely delivered, the Indenture
Trustee shall file an amended Form 10-K including such documents as exhibits
reasonably promptly after they are delivered to the Indenture Trustee. The
Indenture Trustee shall have no liability with respect to any failure to
properly prepare or file such periodic reports resulting from or relating to the
Indenture Trustee's inability or failure to obtain any information not resulting
from its own negligence or willful misconduct. The Form 10-K shall also include
a certification in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C-1 (the
"Certification"), in compliance with Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14 under the Exchange
Act and any additional directives of the Commission, which shall be signed by
the senior officer of the RMBS Master Servicer in charge of securitization.
(c) In addition, the Indenture Trustee shall sign a certification
(in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C-2) for the benefit of the RMBS Master
Servicer and its officers, directors and Affiliates regarding certain aspects of
items 1 through 3 of the Certification (provided, however, that the Indenture
Trustee shall not undertake an analysis of any accountant's report attached as
an exhibit to the Form 10-K).
(d) In addition, (i) the Indenture Trustee shall indemnify and
hold harmless the Issuer and the Depositor and their officers, directors and
Affiliates from and against any losses, damages, penalties, fines, forfeitures,
reasonable and necessary legal fees and related costs, judgments and other costs
and expenses arising out of or based upon a failure of the Indenture Trustee to
deliver the certification referred to in clause (c) above, and (ii) the RMBS
Master Servicer shall indemnify and hold harmless the Issuer, the Depositor and
their respective officers, directors and Affiliates from and against any losses,
damages, penalties, fines, forfeitures, reasonable and necessary legal fees and
related costs, judgments and other costs and expenses arising out of or based
upon a breach of the RMBS Master Servicer's obligations under this Section 4.06
or the RMBS Master Servicer's negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct in
connection therewith.
(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Basic Documents,
the provisions of this Section 4.06 may be amended by the RMBS Master Servicer,
the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee without the consent of the Securityholders.
27
ARTICLE V
The RMBS Master Servicer
Section 5.01 Liability of the RMBS Master Servicer. The RMBS Master
Servicer shall be liable in accordance herewith only to the extent of the
obligations specifically imposed upon and undertaken by the RMBS Master Servicer
herein.
Section 5.02 Merger or Consolidation of or Assumption of the
Obligations of the RMBS Master Servicer. Any corporation into which the RMBS
Master Servicer may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated,
or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to
which the RMBS Master Servicer shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding
to the business of the RMBS Master Servicer, shall be the successor of the RMBS
Master Servicer hereunder, without the execution or filing of any paper or any
further act on the part of any of the parties hereto, anything herein to the
contrary notwithstanding; provided, however, that the successor or surviving
Person to the RMBS Master Servicer shall be qualified to sell mortgage loans to
and service mortgage loans for Xxxxxx Xxx or Xxxxxxx Mac.
The RMBS Master Servicer may assign its rights and delegate its duties
and obligations under this Servicing Agreement; provided, that the Person
accepting such assignment or delegation shall be a Person which is qualified to
service mortgage loans on behalf of Xxxxxx Mae or Xxxxxxx Mac, is reasonably
satisfactory to the Indenture Trustee (as pledgee of the Mortgage Loans) and the
Company (in its sole discretion), is willing to service the Mortgage Loans and
executes and delivers to the Indenture Trustee and the Company an agreement, in
form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Indenture Trustee and the
Company, which contains an assumption by such Person of the due and punctual
performance and observance of each covenant and condition to be performed or
observed by the RMBS Master Servicer under this Servicing Agreement; provided,
further, that each Rating Agency's rating of the applicable Notes in effect
immediately prior to such assignment and delegation will not be qualified,
reduced, or withdrawn as a result of such assignment and delegation (as
evidenced by a letter to such effect from each Rating Agency) or considered to
be below investment grade.
Section 5.03 Limitation on Liability of the RMBS Master Servicer and
Others. Neither the RMBS Master Servicer nor any of the directors or officers or
employees or agents of the RMBS Master Servicer shall be under any liability to
the Company, the Issuer, the Owner Trustee, the Indenture Trustee or the
Noteholders for any action taken or for refraining from the taking of any action
in good faith pursuant to this Servicing Agreement, provided, however, that this
provision shall not protect the RMBS Master Servicer or any such Person against
any liability which would otherwise be imposed by reason of its willful
misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its duties
hereunder or by reason of its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties
hereunder. The RMBS Master Servicer and any director or officer or employee or
agent of the RMBS Master Servicer may rely in good faith on any document of any
kind prima facie properly executed and submitted by any Person respecting any
matters arising hereunder. The RMBS Master Servicer and any director or officer
or employee or agent of the RMBS Master Servicer shall be indemnified by the
Company and held harmless against any loss, liability or expense incurred in
28
connection with any legal action relating to this Servicing Agreement or the
Notes, including any amount paid to the Owner Trustee or the Indenture Trustee
pursuant to Section 5.06(b), other than any loss, liability or expense related
to any specific Mortgage Loan or Mortgage Loans (except as any such loss,
liability or expense shall be otherwise reimbursable pursuant to this Servicing
Agreement) and any loss, liability or expense incurred by reason of its willful
misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its duties
hereunder or by reason of its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties
hereunder. The RMBS Master Servicer shall not be under any obligation to appear
in, prosecute or defend any legal action which is not incidental to its duties
to service the Mortgage Loans in accordance with this Servicing Agreement, and
which in its opinion may involve it in any expense or liability; provided,
however, that the RMBS Master Servicer may in its sole discretion undertake any
such action which it may deem necessary or desirable in respect of this
Servicing Agreement, and the rights and duties of the parties hereto and the
interests of the Securityholders hereunder. In such event, the reasonable legal
expenses and costs of such action and any liability resulting therefrom shall be
expenses, costs and liabilities of the Company, and the RMBS Master Servicer
shall be entitled to be reimbursed therefor. The RMBS Master Servicer's right to
indemnity or reimbursement pursuant to this Section 5.03 shall survive any
resignation or termination of the RMBS Master Servicer pursuant to Sections 5.04
or 6.01 with respect to any losses, expenses, costs or liabilities arising prior
to such resignation or termination (or arising from events that occurred prior
to such resignation or termination).
Section 5.04 RMBS Master Servicer Not to Resign. Subject to the
provisions of Section 5.02, the RMBS Master Servicer shall not resign from the
obligations and duties hereby imposed on it except (i) upon determination that
the performance of its obligations or duties hereunder are no longer permissible
under applicable law (any such determination permitting the resignation of the
RMBS Master Servicer shall be evidenced by an Opinion of Counsel to such effect
delivered to the Indenture Trustee) or (ii) upon satisfaction of the following
conditions: (a) the RMBS Master Servicer has proposed a successor servicer to
the Company and the Indenture Trustee in writing and such proposed successor
servicer is reasonably acceptable to the Company and the Indenture Trustee; and
and (b) each Rating Agency shall have delivered a letter (obtained by and at the
expense of the RMBS Master Servicer) to the Company and the Indenture Trustee
prior to the appointment of the successor servicer stating that the proposed
appointment of such successor servicer as RMBS Master Servicer hereunder will
not result in the reduction, qualification or withdrawal of the then current
rating of the Notes; provided, however, that no such resignation by the RMBS
Master Servicer shall become effective until such successor servicer shall have
assumed the RMBS Master Servicer's responsibilities and obligations hereunder or
another successor RMBS Master Servicer has been appointed in accordance with
Section 6.02 and has accepted such appointment. Any such resignation shall not
relieve the RMBS Master Servicer of responsibility for any of the obligations
specified in Sections 6.01 and 6.02 as obligations that survive the resignation
or termination of the RMBS Master Servicer. The RMBS Master Servicer shall have
no claim (whether by subrogation or otherwise) or other action against any
Noteholder for any amounts paid by the RMBS Master Servicer pursuant to any
provision of this Servicing Agreement.
Section 5.05 Delegation of Duties. In the ordinary course of business,
the RMBS Master Servicer at any time may delegate any of its duties hereunder to
any Person, including any of its Affiliates, who agrees to conduct such duties
in accordance with standards comparable to those with which the RMBS Master
Servicer complies pursuant to Section 3.01. Such delegation shall not
29
relieve the RMBS Master Servicer of its liabilities and responsibilities with
respect to such duties and shall not constitute a resignation within the meaning
of Section 5.04.
Section 5.06 Indemnification. (a) The RMBS Master Servicer agrees to
indemnify the Indenture Trustee and the Owner Trustee for, and to hold the
Indenture Trustee and the Owner Trustee, as the case may be, harmless against,
any claim, tax, penalty, loss, liability or expense of any kind whatsoever,
incurred without negligence (gross negligence in the case of the Owner Trustee)
or willful misconduct on its part, arising out of, or in connection with, the
failure by the RMBS Master Servicer to perform its duties in compliance with
this Servicing Agreement, including the costs and expenses (including reasonable
legal fees and expenses) of defending against any claim in connection with the
exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties under any Basic Document,
provided that:
(i) with respect to any such claim, the Indenture Trustee
or Owner Trustee, as the case may be, shall have given the RMBS Master
Servicer written notice thereof promptly after the Indenture Trustee or
Owner Trustee, as the case may be, shall have actual knowledge thereof,
it being understood that failure to give such notice shall not relieve
the RMBS Master Servicer of its indemnification obligations hereunder;
(ii) while maintaining control over its own defense, the
Company, the Indenture Trustee or Owner Trustee, as the case may be,
shall cooperate and consult fully with the RMBS Master Servicer in
preparing such defense; and
(iii) notwithstanding anything in this Servicing Agreement
to the contrary, the RMBS Master Servicer shall not be liable for
settlement of any claim by the Indenture Trustee or the Owner Trustee,
as the case may be, entered into without the prior consent of the RMBS
Master Servicer, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
(b) The RMBS Master Servicer agrees to indemnify the Owner Trustee
for, and to hold the Owner Trustee, harmless against, any claim, tax, penalty,
loss, liability or expense of any kind whatsoever, in connection with the Owner
Trustee's duties under any of the Basic Documents, except to the extent that
such claim, tax, penalty, loss liability or expense is (i) caused by the Owner
Trustee's own willful misconduct, gross negligence or bad faith or grossly
negligent failure to act or (ii) incurred as a result of the inaccuracy of any
representation or warranty contained in Section 6.03 of the Trust Agreement
expressly made by the Owner Trustee.
(c) No termination of this Servicing Agreement or the resignation
or removal of the Owner Trustee or the Indenture Trustee shall affect the
obligations created by this Section 5.06 of the RMBS Master Servicer to
indemnify the Indenture Trustee and the Owner Trustee under the conditions and
to the extent set forth herein. This section shall survive the termination of
this Servicing Agreement and the resignation or removal of the RMBS Master
Servicer. Any amounts to be paid by the RMBS Master Servicer pursuant to this
Subsection may not be paid from the Trust Estate.
30
Section 5.07 Duties of the RMBS Master Servicer With Respect to the
Indenture. (a) The RMBS Master Servicer shall take all appropriate action that
is the duty of the Issuer to take with respect to the following matters under
the Indenture (references are to sections of the Indenture):
(i) causing the preparation of the Notes (for execution
by the Owner Trustee) upon their initial issuance and causing the
preparation of an Issuer Request (for execution by the Owner Trustee)
for delivery to the Indenture Trustee regarding the authentication of
the Notes (Section 2.02);
(ii) causing the preparation of an Issuer Request and
Officer's Certificate (and executing the same on behalf of the Issuer)
and the obtaining of an Opinion of Counsel and Independent
Certificates, if necessary, for the release of the Collateral (Section
8.05);
(iii) causing the preparation of Issuer Requests (and
executing the same on behalf of the Issuer) and the obtaining of
Opinions of Counsel with respect to the execution of supplemental
indentures;
(iv) causing the preparation and obtaining or filing of
the instruments, opinions and certificates and other documents required
for the release of collateral (Sections 8.05 and 10.01);
(v) the delivery of notice to the Indenture Trustee and
the Rating Agencies of each Event of Default under the Indenture and
under the Trust Agreement (Sections 3.24 and 5.01);
(vi) the annual delivery of Opinions of Counsel, in
accordance with Section 3.07 of the Indenture, as to the Trust Estate,
and the annual delivery and execution of the Officers' Certificate
(Section 3.10);
(vii) causing the preparation and execution of an Officer's
Certificate and the obtaining of the Opinion of Counsel and the
Independent Certificate relating thereto with respect to any request by
the Issuer to the Indenture Trustee to take any action under the
Indenture (Sections 4.10 and 10.01);
(viii) obtaining and preserving the Issuer's qualification
to do business in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is or
shall be necessary to protect the validity and enforceability of the
Indenture, the Notes, the Mortgage Loans and each other instrument and
agreement included in the Trust Estate (Section 3.04).
(b) In addition to the duties of the RMBS Master Servicer set
forth above, the RMBS Master Servicer shall prepare for execution by the Issuer
or shall cause the preparation by other appropriate persons of all such
documents, reports, filings, instruments, certificates and opinions as it shall
be the duty of the Issuer to prepare, file or deliver pursuant to the Basic
Documents, and at the request of the Owner Trustee or the Indenture Trustee
shall take all appropriate action that it is the duty of the Issuer to take
pursuant to the Basic Documents. In accordance with the directions of the Owner
Trustee or Indenture Trustee, the RMBS Master Servicer shall administer, perform
or
31
supervise the performance of such other activities in connection with the
Collateral (including the Basic Documents) as are not covered by any of the
foregoing provisions and as are expressly requested by the Owner Trustee or the
Indenture Trustee and are reasonably within the capability of the RMBS Master
Servicer.
32
ARTICLE VI
Default
Section 6.01 Servicing Default. If any one of the following events
(each, a "Servicing Default") shall occur and be continuing:
(i) Any failure by the RMBS Master Servicer to deposit in
the Collection Account or Payment Account any deposit required to be
made under the terms of this Servicing Agreement, including any Monthly
Advances and Compensating Interest (other than Servicing Advances),
which continues unremedied for a period of one (1) Business Day after
the date upon which written notice of such failure shall have been
given to the RMBS Master Servicer by the Company, the Issuer or the
Indenture Trustee; or
(ii) Failure on the part of the RMBS Master Servicer duly
to observe or perform in any material respect any representation or
warranty of the RMBS Master Servicer or any other covenants or
agreements of the RMBS Master Servicer (including the making of
Servicing Advances) set forth in this Servicing Agreement, which
failure, in each case, materially and adversely affects the interests
of Noteholders and which continues unremedied for a period of 30 days
after the date on which written notice of such failure, requiring the
same to be remedied, and stating that such notice is a "Notice of
Default" hereunder, shall have been given to the RMBS Master Servicer
by the Company, the Issuer or the Indenture Trustee; or
(iii) The entry against the RMBS Master Servicer of a
decree or order by a court or agency or supervisory authority having
jurisdiction in the premises for the appointment of a trustee,
conservator, receiver or liquidator in any insolvency, conservatorship,
receivership, readjustment of debt, marshaling of assets and
liabilities or similar proceedings, or for the winding up or
liquidation of its affairs, and the continuance of any such decree or
order unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days; or
(iv) The RMBS Master Servicer shall voluntarily go into
liquidation, consent to the appointment of a conservator, receiver,
liquidator or similar person in any insolvency, readjustment of debt,
marshaling of assets and liabilities or similar proceedings of or
relating to the RMBS Master Servicer or of or relating to all or
substantially all of its property, or a decree or order of a court,
agency or supervisory authority having jurisdiction in the premises for
the appointment of a conservator, receiver, liquidator or similar
person in any insolvency, readjustment of debt, marshaling of assets
and liabilities or similar proceedings, or for the winding-up or
liquidation of its affairs, shall have been entered against the RMBS
Master Servicer and such decree or order shall have remained in force
undischarged, unbonded or unstayed for a period of 60 days; or the RMBS
Master Servicer shall admit in writing its inability to pay its debts
generally as they become due, file a petition to take advantage of any
applicable insolvency or reorganization statute, make an assignment for
the benefit of its creditors or voluntarily suspend payment of its
obligations;
33
then, and in every such case, so long as a Servicing Default shall not have been
remedied by the RMBS Master Servicer, either the Issuer or the holders of at
least 51% of the aggregate Note Principal Balance of each Class of Notes may,
subject to the direction of the Indenture Trustee as pledgee of the Mortgage
Loans, by notice then given to the RMBS Master Servicer, terminate all of the
rights and obligations of the RMBS Master Servicer as servicer under this
Servicing Agreement other than its right to receive servicing compensation and
expenses for servicing the Mortgage Loans hereunder during any period prior to
the date of such termination and the Issuer, subject to the direction of the
Indenture Trustee as pledgee of the Mortgage Loans may exercise any and all
other remedies available at law or equity. Any such notice to the RMBS Master
Servicer shall also be given to each Rating Agency, the Company and the Issuer.
On or after the receipt by the RMBS Master Servicer of such written notice, all
authority and power of the RMBS Master Servicer under this Servicing Agreement,
whether with respect to the Notes or the Mortgage Loans or otherwise, shall pass
to and be vested in the Indenture Trustee, pursuant to and under this Section
6.01; and, without limitation, the Indenture Trustee is hereby authorized and
empowered to execute and deliver, on behalf of the RMBS Master Servicer, as
attorney-in-fact or otherwise, any and all documents and other instruments, and
to do or accomplish all other acts or things necessary or appropriate to effect
the purposes of such notice of termination, whether to complete the transfer and
endorsement of each Mortgage Loan and related documents, or otherwise.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the parties hereto and the Securityholders by
their acceptance of any Security, acknowledge and agree that there will be a
period of transition before the actual servicing functions can be fully
transferred to the Indenture Trustee, as successor RMBS Master Servicer, or to a
successor RMBS Master Servicer appointed by the Indenture Trustee pursuant to
the provisions hereof, provided, that the Indenture Trustee shall use its
reasonable best efforts to succeed to the actual servicing functions or find a
successor RMBS Master Servicer as soon as possible but no later than 90 days
after such termination. The RMBS Master Servicer agrees to cooperate with the
Indenture Trustee in effecting the termination of the responsibilities and
rights of the RMBS Master Servicer hereunder, including, without limitation, the
transfer to the Indenture Trustee or the successor RMBS Master Servicer for
administration by it of (i) the property and amounts which are then or should be
part of the Trust Estate or which thereafter become part of the Trust Estate;
(ii) originals or copies of all documents of the RMBS Master Servicer reasonably
requested by the Indenture Trustee to enable it to assume the RMBS Master
Servicer's duties thereunder and under the Subservicing Agreements; (iii) the
rights and obligations of the RMBS Master Servicer under the Subservicing
Agreements with respect to the Mortgage Loans; (iv) all cash amounts which shall
at the time be deposited by the RMBS Master Servicer or should have been
deposited to the Collection Account, the related Servicing Accounts or the
Payment Account or thereafter be received with respect to the Mortgage Loans;
and (v) all costs or expenses associated with the complete transfer of all
servicing data and the completion, correction or manipulation of such servicing
data as may be required by the Indenture Trustee or any successor RMBS Master
Servicer to correct any errors or insufficiencies in the servicing data or
otherwise to enable the Indenture Trustee or successor RMBS Master Servicer to
service the Mortgage Loans properly and effectively. All reasonable costs and
expenses (including, but not limited to, attorneys' fees and disbursements)
incurred by the Indenture Trustee or a successor RMBS Master Servicer in
connection with its succession as RMBS Master Servicer, including amending this
Servicing Agreement to reflect such succession as RMBS Master Servicer pursuant
to this Section 6.01 shall be paid by the predecessor RMBS Master Servicer (or
if the predecessor RMBS Master Servicer is the Indenture Trustee, the initial
RMBS Master Servicer) upon presentation of reasonable documentation of such
costs and expenses, and if not so paid by the
34
predecessor RMBS Master Servicer, shall be reimbursed by the Issuer pursuant to
Section 6.07 of the Indenture.
Notwithstanding any termination of the activities of the RMBS Master
Servicer hereunder, the RMBS Master Servicer shall be entitled to receive, out
of any late collection of a payment on a Mortgage Loan which was due prior to
the notice terminating the RMBS Master Servicer's rights and obligations
hereunder and received after such notice, that portion to which the RMBS Master
Servicer would have been entitled pursuant to Sections 3.07 and 3.15 as well as
its RMBS Master Servicing Fee in respect thereof, and any other amounts payable
to the RMBS Master Servicer hereunder the entitlement to which arose prior to
the termination of its activities hereunder.
The RMBS Master Servicer shall immediately notify the Indenture Trustee
and the Owner Trustee in writing of any Servicing Default.
Section 6.02 Indenture Trustee to Act; Appointment of Successor. (a)
Within 90 days of the time the RMBS Master Servicer sends a notice pursuant to
clause (i) of Section 5.04, the Indenture Trustee on behalf of the Noteholders,
or other successor appointed in accordance with this Section 6.02, shall be the
successor in all respects to the RMBS Master Servicer in its capacity as RMBS
Master Servicer under this Servicing Agreement and the transactions set forth or
provided for herein and shall be subject to all the responsibilities, duties and
liabilities relating thereto placed on the RMBS Master Servicer by the terms and
provisions hereof, including but not limited to the provisions of Article V.
Nothing in this Servicing Agreement shall be construed to permit or require the
Indenture Trustee or any other successor RMBS Master Servicer to (i) succeed to
the responsibilities, duties and liabilities of the initial RMBS Master Servicer
in its capacity as the Seller under the Mortgage Loan Purchase Agreement, (ii)
be responsible or accountable for any act or omission of the predecessor RMBS
Master Servicer, (iii) require or obligate the Indenture Trustee, in its
capacity as successor RMBS Master Servicer, to purchase, repurchase or
substitute any Mortgage Loan, (iv) fund any losses on any Eligible Investment
directed by any other RMBS Master Servicer, or (v) be responsible for the
representations and warranties of the RMBS Master Servicer, except as provided
herein; provided, however, that the Indenture Trustee, as successor RMBS Master
Servicer, shall be required to make any Monthly Advances to the extent that the
RMBS Master Servicer failed to make such Monthly Advances, to the extent such
Monthly Advance is not determined by the Indenture Trustee to be a
Nonrecoverable Advance. As compensation therefor, the Indenture Trustee shall be
entitled to such compensation as the RMBS Master Servicer would have been
entitled to hereunder if no such notice of termination had been given.
Notwithstanding the above, (i) if the Indenture Trustee is unwilling to act as
successor RMBS Master Servicer, or (ii) if the Indenture Trustee is legally
unable so to act, the Indenture Trustee on behalf of the Noteholders may (in the
situation described in clause (i)) or shall (in the situation described in
clause (ii)) appoint or petition a court of competent jurisdiction to appoint
any established housing and home finance institution, bank or other mortgage
loan servicer having a net worth of not less than $10,000,000 as the successor
to the RMBS Master Servicer hereunder in the assumption of all or any part of
the responsibilities, duties or liabilities of the RMBS Master Servicer
hereunder; provided that the appointment of any such successor RMBS Master
Servicer will not result in the qualification, reduction or withdrawal of the
ratings assigned to the Notes by the Rating Agencies (as evidenced by a letter
to such effect delivered by the Rating Agencies). Pending appointment of a
successor to the RMBS Master Servicer hereunder, unless the Indenture Trustee is
prohibited by law from so
35
acting or is unwilling to act as such, the Indenture Trustee shall act in such
capacity as hereinabove provided. In connection with such appointment and
assumption, the successor shall be entitled to receive compensation out of
payments on Mortgage Loans in an amount equal to the compensation which the RMBS
Master Servicer would otherwise have received pursuant to Section 3.15 (or such
lesser compensation as the Indenture Trustee and such successor shall agree).
The appointment of a successor RMBS Master Servicer shall not affect any
liability of the predecessor RMBS Master Servicer which may have arisen under
this Servicing Agreement prior to its termination as RMBS Master Servicer
(including, without limitation, the obligation to purchase Mortgage Loans
pursuant to Section 3.01, to pay any deductible under an insurance policy
pursuant to Section 3.11 or to indemnify the Indenture Trustee pursuant to
Section 5.06), nor shall any successor RMBS Master Servicer be liable for any
acts or omissions of the predecessor RMBS Master Servicer or for any breach by
such RMBS Master Servicer of any of its representations or warranties contained
herein or in any related document or agreement. The Indenture Trustee, the
Custodian and such successor shall take such action, consistent with this
Servicing Agreement, as shall be necessary to effectuate any such succession.
In connection with the termination or resignation of the RMBS Master
Servicer hereunder, either (i) the successor RMBS Master Servicer, including the
Indenture Trustee if the Indenture Trustee is acting as successor RMBS Master
Servicer, shall represent and warrant that it is a member of MERS in good
standing and shall agree to comply in all material respects with the rules and
procedures of MERS in connection with the servicing of the Mortgage Loans that
are registered with MERS, in which case the predecessor RMBS Master Servicer
shall cooperate with the successor RMBS Master Servicer in causing MERS to
revise its records to reflect the transfer of servicing to the successor RMBS
Master Servicer as necessary under MERS' rules and regulations, or (ii) the
predecessor RMBS Master Servicer shall cooperate with the successor RMBS Master
Servicer in causing MERS to execute and deliver an assignment of Mortgage in
recordable form to transfer the Mortgage from MERS to the Indenture Trustee and
to execute and deliver such other notices, documents and other instruments as
may be necessary or desirable to effect a transfer of such Mortgage Loan or
servicing of such Mortgage Loan on the MERS(R) System to the successor RMBS
Master Servicer. The predecessor RMBS Master Servicer shall file or cause to be
filed any such assignment in the appropriate recording office. The predecessor
RMBS Master Servicer shall bear any and all fees of MERS, costs of preparing any
assignments of Mortgage, and fees and costs of filing any assignments of
Mortgage that may be required under this Section 6.02. To the extent these fees
and costs are not paid by the RMBS Master Servicer and are incurred by any
successor RMBS Master Servicer, such fees and costs will be reimbursable to the
successor RMBS Master Servicer by the Trust. The successor RMBS Master Servicer
shall cause such assignment to be delivered to the Indenture Trustee promptly
upon receipt of the original with evidence of recording thereon or a copy
certified by the public recording office in which such assignment was recorded.
(b) Any successor, including the Indenture Trustee on behalf of
the Noteholders, to the RMBS Master Servicer as servicer shall during the term
of its service as servicer (i) continue to service and administer the Mortgage
Loans for the benefit of the Securityholders, (ii) maintain in force a policy or
policies of insurance covering errors and omissions in the performance of its
obligations as RMBS Master Servicer hereunder and a fidelity bond in respect of
its officers, employees and agents to the same extent as the RMBS Master
Servicer is so required pursuant to Section 3.11(g).
36
(c) Any successor RMBS Master Servicer, including the Indenture
Trustee on behalf of the Noteholders, shall not be deemed to be in default or to
have breached its duties hereunder if the predecessor RMBS Master Servicer shall
fail to deliver any required deposit to the Collection Account or a Servicing
Account or otherwise cooperate with any required servicing transfer or
succession hereunder.
(d) Notwithstanding anything else herein to the contrary, in no
event shall the Indenture Trustee be liable for any servicing fee or any
differential in the amount of the servicing fee paid hereunder and the amount
necessary to induce any successor RMBS Master Servicer to act as a successor
RMBS Master Servicer under this Servicing Agreement and the transactions set
forth or provided for herein.
Section 6.03 Notification to Noteholders. Upon any termination or
appointment of a successor to the RMBS Master Servicer pursuant to this Article
VI or Section 5.04, the Indenture Trustee shall give prompt written notice
thereof to the Noteholders, the Owner Trustee, the Company, the Issuer and the
Rating Agencies.
Section 6.04 Waiver of Defaults. The Indenture Trustee shall transmit
by mail to all Noteholders, within 10 days after the occurrence of any Servicing
Default known to the Indenture Trustee, unless such Servicing Default shall have
been cured, notice of each such Servicing Default hereunder known to a
Responsible Officer of the Indenture Trustee. The holders of at least 51% of the
aggregate Note Principal Balance of each Class of the Notes may waive any
default by the RMBS Master Servicer in the performance of its obligations
hereunder and the consequences thereof, except a default in the making of or the
causing to be made any required distribution on the Notes. Upon any such waiver
of a past default, such default shall be deemed to cease to exist, and any
Servicing Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been timely remedied
for every purpose of this Servicing Agreement. No such waiver shall extend to
any subsequent or other default or impair any right consequent thereon except to
the extent expressly so waived. The RMBS Master Servicer shall give notice of
any such waiver to the Rating Agencies.
37
ARTICLE VII
Miscellaneous Provisions
Section 7.01 Amendment. This Servicing Agreement may be amended from
time to time by the parties hereto, provided that any amendment be accompanied
by a letter from the Rating Agencies that the amendment will not result in the
downgrading, qualification or withdrawal of the rating then assigned to the
Notes and the consent of the Indenture Trustee.
Section 7.02 GOVERNING LAW. THIS SERVICING AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REFERENCE TO ITS
CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISIONS, AND THE OBLIGATIONS, RIGHTS AND REMEDIES OF THE
PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE DETERMINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUCH LAWS.
Section 7.03 Notices. All demands, notices and communications hereunder
shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if when
delivered to:
(a) in the case of the RMBS Master Servicer: American Home Mortgage Servicing,
Inc.
0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxx , Xxxxxxxx 00000
(b) in the case of Rating Agencies: Standard & Poor's, a division of The
XxXxxx-Xxxx Companies, Inc.
00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx - 41st Floor
New York, New York 10041
Attention: Asset Backed Surveillance Group
Xxxxx'x Investors Service, Inc.
00 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention:
(c) in the case of the Owner Trustee,
the Corporate Trust Office: Wilmington Trust Company
Xxxxxx Square North
0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Corporate Trust Administration
(d) in the case of the Issuer, to
American Home Mortgage
Investment Trust 2004-4: c/o American Home Mortgage Securities LLC
000 Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxx
00
Xxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: General Counsel
(e) in the case of the Indenture Trustee: its Corporate Trust
Office
or, as to each party, at such other address as shall be designated by such party
in a written notice to each other party. Any notice required or permitted to be
mailed to a Noteholder shall be given by first class mail, postage prepaid, at
the address of such Noteholder as shown in the Note Register. Any notice so
mailed within the time prescribed in this Servicing Agreement shall be
conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the Noteholder
receives such notice. Any notice or other document required to be delivered or
mailed by the Indenture Trustee to the Rating Agencies shall be given on a
reasonable efforts basis and only as a matter of courtesy and accommodation and
the Indenture Trustee shall have no liability for failure to deliver such notice
or document to the Rating Agencies.
Section 7.04 Severability of Provisions. If any one or more of the
covenants, agreements, provisions or terms of this Servicing Agreement shall be
for any reason whatsoever held invalid, then such covenants, agreements,
provisions or terms shall be deemed severable from the remaining covenants,
agreements, provisions or terms of this Servicing Agreement and shall in no way
affect the validity or enforceability of the other provisions of this Servicing
Agreement or of the Notes or the rights of the Noteholders thereof.
Section 7.05 Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Servicing Agreement will
inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto, the Noteholders,
the Issuer, the Owner Trustee, the Depositor and any of its officers and
directors, the Indenture Trustee and their respective successors and permitted
assigns. Except as otherwise provided in this Servicing Agreement, no other
Person will have any right or obligation hereunder. The Indenture Trustee shall
have the right to exercise all rights of the Issuer under this Agreement. The
Depositor and its officers and directors (in their corporate or individual
capacity) shall have the right to bring an action against any party hereto as it
relates to a failure of such party to comply with its obligations under Section
4.06 of this Servicing Agreement.
Section 7.06 Counterparts. This instrument may be executed in any
number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an
original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the
same instrument.
Section 7.07 Effect of Headings and Table of Contents. The Article and
Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and
shall not affect the construction hereof.
Section 7.08 Termination. The respective obligations and
responsibilities of the RMBS Master Servicer and the Issuer created hereby shall
terminate upon the satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture pursuant to
Section 4.10 thereof.
Section 7.09 No Petition. The RMBS Master Servicer, by entering into
this Servicing Agreement, hereby covenants and agrees that it will not at any
time institute against the Issuer, or
39
join in any institution against the Issuer, any bankruptcy proceedings under any
United States federal or state bankruptcy or similar law in connection with any
obligations of the Issuer. This section shall survive the satisfaction and
discharge of the Indenture by one year.
Section 7.10 No Recourse. The RMBS Master Servicer acknowledges that no
recourse may be had against the Issuer, except as may be expressly set forth in
this Servicing Agreement.
Section 7.11 The parties to this Servicing Agreement each hereby
irrevocably submits to the non exclusive jurisdiction of any New York State or
federal court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York in any
action or proceeding arising out of or relating to the Notes, this Indenture or
the transactions contemplated hereby, and all such parties hereby irrevocably
agree that all claims in respect of such action or proceeding may be heard and
determined in such New York State or federal court and hereby irrevocably waive,
to the fullest extent that they may legally do so, the defense of an
inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding.
EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT
PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION OR
PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS SERVICING AGREEMENT, THE NOTES OR
THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
40
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the RMBS Master Servicer, the Issuer and the
Indenture Trustee have caused this Servicing Agreement to be duly executed by
their respective officers or representatives all as of the day and year first
above written.
AMERICAN HOME MORTGAGE SERVICING, INC.
as RMBS Master Servicer
By:___________________________________
Name:
Title:
AMERICAN HOME MORTGAGE INVESTMENT
TRUST 2004-4,
as Issuer
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,
not in its individual capacity,
but solely as Owner Trustee
By:___________________________________
Name:
Title:
THE BANK OF NEW YORK,
not in its individual capacity,
but solely as Indenture Trustee
By:___________________________________
Name:
Title:
Acknowledged and agreed with respect
to Section 5.03 hereof:
AMERICAN HOME MORTGAGE
SECURITIES LLC.,
as Depositor
By:___________________________________
Name:
Title:
EXHIBIT A
RMBS MORTGAGE LOAN SCHEDULE
(Filed Manually)
A-1
EXHIBIT B
FORM OF REQUEST FOR RELEASE
DATE:
TO:
RE: REQUEST FOR RELEASE OF DOCUMENTS
In connection with your administration of the Mortgage Loans, we request the
release of the Mortgage File described below.
Servicing Agreement ("Servicing Agreement") Dated:
Series #:
Account #:
Pool #:
Loan #:
Borrower Name(s):
Reason for Document Request: (circle one) Mortgage Loan Prepaid in Full
Other
Mortgage Loan Repurchased
Please deliver the Mortgage File to_____________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
"We hereby certify that all amounts received or to be received in connection
with such payments which are required to be deposited have been deposited in the
Payment Account as provided in the Servicing Agreement."
_______________________
[Name of RMBS Master Servicer]
Authorized Signature
******************************************************************************
TO CUSTODIAN: Please acknowledge this request, and check off documents being
enclosed with a copy of this form. You should retain this form for your files in
accordance with the terms of the Servicing Agreement.
Enclosed Documents: [ ] Promissory Note
[ ] Primary Insurance Policy
[ ] Mortgage or Deed of Trust
[ ] Assignment(s) of Mortgage
or Deed of Trust
[ ] Title Insurance Policy
_______________________ [ ] Other:
Name
_______________________
Title
_______________________
Date
B-1
EXHIBIT C-1
FORM OF CERTIFICATION TO BE PROVIDED BY THE RMBS MASTER SERVICER
WITH FORM 10-K
Re: American Home Mortgage Investment Trust 2004-4
Mortgage-Backed Notes, Series 2004-4
I, [identify the certifying individual], certify that:
l. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K, and
all reports on Form 8-K containing distribution or servicing reports filed in
respect of periods included in the year covered by this annual report, of
American Home Mortgage Securities LLC (the "Registrant");
2. Based on my knowledge, the information in these
reports, taken as a whole, does not contain any untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in
light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading
as of the last day of the period covered by this annual report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the servicing information
required to be provided to the Trustee by the RMBS Master Servicer under the
Servicing Agreement is included in these reports;
4. I am responsible for reviewing the activities
performed by the RMBS Master Servicer under the Servicing Agreement and based
upon the review required under the Servicing Agreement, and except as disclosed
in the report, the RMBS Master Servicer has fulfilled its obligations under the
Servicing Agreement; and
5. I have disclosed to the Registrant's certified public
accountants all significant deficiencies relating to the RMBS Master Servicer's
compliance with the minimum servicing standards in accordance with a review
conducted in compliance with the Uniform Single Attestation Program for Mortgage
Bankers or similar standard as set forth in the Servicing Agreement.
Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the
meanings ascribed to them in Appendix A to the Indenture, dated as of December
21, 2004, between American Home Mortgage Investment Trust 2004-4, as issuer, and
The Bank of New York, as indenture trustee.
AMERICAN HOME MORTGAGE SERVICING, INC.
By:___________________________________
Name:
Title:
Date:
C-1-1
EXHIBIT C-2
FORM OF CERTIFICATION TO BE
PROVIDED TO RMBS MASTER SERVICER BY THE INDENTURE TRUSTEE
Re: American Home Mortgage Investment Trust 2004-4 (the
"Trust" or the "Issuer") Mortgage-Backed Notes,
Series 2004-4
The Bank of New York, as Indenture Trustee under the
Indenture, dated December 21, 2004, between American Home Mortgage Investment
Trust 2004-4, as issuer, and The Bank of New York, as indenture trustee (the
"Indenture"), hereby certifies to [American Home Mortgage Servicing, Inc. (the
"RMBS Master Servicer")][American Home Mortgage Securities LLC] and its
officers, directors and affiliates, and with the knowledge and intent that they
will rely upon this certification in connection with the certification that the
Depositor is required to file on behalf of the Trust pursuant to Section 302 of
the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002, that:
1. An officer in the corporate trust department of The
Bank of New York who has responsibility for administration of the Indenture has
reviewed the annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year [___], and all
reports on Form 8-K containing distribution reports filed in respect of periods
included in the year covered by that annual report, of the Issuer relating to
the above-referenced trust;
2. Assuming the accuracy and completeness of the
information delivered to The Bank of New York by the RMBS Master Servicer as
provided in the Servicing Agreement dated as of December 21, 2004, with respect
to the Trust, and subject to paragraph 4 below, the information in these
distribution reports prepared by the Indenture Trustee, taken as a whole, does
not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under
which such statements were made, not misleading as of the last day of the period
covered by that annual report; and
3. Based solely on the information delivered to The Bank
of New York by the RMBS Master Servicer as provided in the Servicing Agreement,
the distribution information required to be provided by the Indenture Trustee
under the Indenture is included in these distribution reports.
4. The Bank of New York is not certifying as to the
accuracy, completeness or correctness of the information which it received from
the RMBS Master Servicer and did not independently verify or confirm the
accuracy, completeness or correctness of the information provided by the RMBS
Master Servicer.
THE BANK OF NEW YORK,
as Indenture Trustee
By:___________________________________
Name:
Title:
Date:
C-2-1
EXHIBIT D
FORM OF REMITTANCE REPORT FROM RMBS Master Servicer
============================ ================================================================= ===================================
DATA DESCRIPTION FORMAT
============================ ================================================================= ===================================
Loan Number A numeric identifier for each loan- no more than 10 digits. Text: up to 10 characters
---------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------
Borrower Next Pay Due The date that the borrower's next payment is due to the servicer. Date: "MM/DD/YYYY"
Date
---------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------
Current Loan Rate The current interest rate that the borrower is paying on the Number: max length of 6 w/4
outstanding principal. decimal places
---------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------
Actual Ending Principal The borrower's outstanding principal balance due on the Number: 2 decimal places, no
Balance mortgage loan at the end of the reporting period. commas (,) or dollar signs ($)
---------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------
Scheduled Ending The outstanding principal amount (ending) due to be passed Number: 2 decimal places, no
Principal Balance through to the investors after the application of the current commas (,) or dollar signs ($)
period principal amount, if applicable. Please
note that if a A/A or S/A deal structure - this
may be the Actual Ending Balance.
---------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------
Actual Beginning The borrowers outstanding principal balance due on the Number: 2 decimal places, no
Principal Balance mortgage loans at the beginning of the reporting period. commas (,) or dollar signs ($)
---------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------
Scheduled Beginning The outstanding principal amount (beginning) due to be passed Number: 2 decimal places, no
Principal Balance through to the investors before the application of the current commas (,) or dollar signs ($)
period principal amount, if applicable.
---------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------
Scheduled Pay Amount Monthly scheduled P&I Payment: Scheduled principal and Number: 2 decimal places, no
interest payment due to the servicer. commas (,) or dollar signs ($)
---------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------
Scheduled Principal Pay The scheduled principal payment due to the Servicer. This Number: 2 decimal places, no
Amount amount may also reflect actual principal collected if A/A or S/A commas (,) or dollar signs ($)
deal structure.
---------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------
Curtailment Principal All curtailments and principal adjustments including curtailment Number: 2 decimal places, no
Amount interest. commas (,) or dollar signs ($)
---------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------
Curtailment Principal Additional Unscheduled Principal Column Number: 2 decimal places, no
Amount 2 commas (,) or dollar signs ($)
---------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------
Curtailment Principal Additional Unscheduled Principal Column Number: 2 decimal places, no
Amount 3 commas (,) or dollar signs ($)
---------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------
Reported Action Code Industry standard delinquency codes used to determine the type Action Key Code: 15 = Bankruptcy,
of loan. 30 = Foreclosure, 70 = REO, 60 =
PIF, and 65 = Repurchase
---------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------
Paid in Full Amount Liquidation amount/proceeds. Number: 2 decimal places, no
commas (,) or dollar signs ($)
---------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------
Paid in Full Date Liquidation date. Date: "MM/DD/YYYY"
---------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------
Scheduled Gross Interest The borrower's scheduled interest payment due to the servicer. Number: 2 decimal places, no
Amount This is inclusive of servicing fee. commas (,) or dollar signs ($)
---------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------
Loan Fee Amount The servicer's monthly fee rate. Number: 2 decimal places, no
commas (,) or dollar signs ($)
---------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------
D-1
---------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------
Loan Fee Rate The servicer's annual fee rate. Number: max length of 6 w/4
decimal places
---------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------
Credit Loss Amount The amount of loss due to credit. Number: 2 decimal places, no
commas (,) or dollar signs ($)
---------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------
Fraud Loss Amount The amount of loss due to fraud. Number: 2 decimal places, no
commas (,) or dollar signs ($)
---------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------
Bankruptcy Loss The amount of loss due to Bankruptcy. Number: 2 decimal places, no
Amount commas (,) or dollar signs ($)
---------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------
Special Hazard Loss The amount of loss due to special hazard. Number: 2 decimal places, no
Amount commas (,) or dollar signs ($)
---------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------
Prepayment Penalty The amount of prepayment penalty pledged to Trust on a Number: 2 decimal places, no
Amount prepayment in full or large partial prepayment prior to end of commas (,) or dollar signs ($)
prepayment period.
---------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------
Important file notes:
1. File contains column headers
2. Column headers do not contain spaces or periods
3. Column headers are consistent monthly
4. Order of columns is not important
5. Data is in correct format as stated in the file layout
D-2
================================================================================
GMAC MORTGAGE CORPORATION,
as HELOC Master Servicer,
AMERICAN HOME MORTGAGE TRUST 2004-4,
as Issuer
AMERICAN HOME MORTGAGE ACCEPTANCE, INC.
as Seller
and
THE BANK OF NEW YORK,
as Indenture Trustee
------------------------------------
SERVICING AGREEMENT
Dated as of December 21, 2004
------------------------------------
HELOC Mortgage Loans
American Home Mortgage Investment Trust 2004-4
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
----
ARTICLE I
Definitions..........................................................................................2
Section 1.01 DEFINITIONS.......................................................................2
Section 1.02 OTHER DEFINITIONAL PROVISIONS.....................................................2
Section 1.03 INTEREST CALCULATIONS.............................................................2
ARTICLE II
................................................................................................4
Section 2.01 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES REGARDING
THE HELOC MASTER SERVICER.........................................................4
Section 2.02 EXISTENCE.........................................................................5
Section 2.03 ENFORCEMENT OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.....................................5
ARTICLE III
Administration and Servicing of HELOC Mortgage Loans.................................................7
Section 3.01 HELOC MASTER SERVICER TO ASSURE SERVICING.........................................7
Section 3.02 SUBSERVICING AGREEMENTS BETWEEN HELOC MASTER
SERVICER AND SUBSERVICERS........................................................10
Section 3.03 SUCCESSOR SUBSERVICERS...........................................................10
Section 3.04 LIABILITY OF THE HELOC MASTER SERVICER...........................................11
Section 3.05 ASSUMPTION OR TERMINATION OF SUBSERVICING
AGREEMENTS BY INDENTURE TRUSTEE..................................................11
Section 3.06 COLLECTION OF MORTGAGE LOAN PAYMENTS.............................................12
Section 3.07 WITHDRAWALS FROM THE COLLECTION ACCOUNT..........................................14
Section 3.08 COLLECTION OF TAXES ASSESSMENTS AND SIMILAR ITEMS;
SERVICING ACCOUNTS..............................................................16
Section 3.09 ACCESS TO CERTAIN DOCUMENTATION AND INFORMATION
REGARDING THE HELOC MORTGAGE LOANS...............................................17
Section 3.10 RESERVED.........................................................................17
Section 3.11 MAINTENANCE OF HAZARD INSURANCE AND FIDELITY COVERAGE............................18
Section 3.12 DUE-ON-SALE CLAUSES; ASSUMPTION AGREEMENTS.......................................20
Section 3.13 REALIZATION UPON DEFAULTED HELOC MORTGAGE LOANS..................................20
Section 3.14 INDENTURE TRUSTEE TO COOPERATE; RELEASE OF MORTGAGE FILES........................22
Section 3.15 MASTER SERVICING COMPENSATION....................................................23
Section 3.16 ANNUAL STATEMENTS OF COMPLIANCE..................................................23
i
Section 3.17 ANNUAL INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS' SERVICING REPORT..........................24
Section 3.18 OPTIONAL PURCHASE OF DEFAULTED HELOC MORTGAGE LOANS..............................24
Section 3.19 INFORMATION REQUIRED BY THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE
GENERALLY AND REPORTS OF FORECLOSURES AND
ABANDONMENTS OF MORTGAGED PROPERTY...............................................25
ARTICLE IV
Servicing Certificate...............................................................................26
Section 4.01 REMITTANCE REPORTS...............................................................26
Section 4.02 RESERVED.........................................................................26
Section 4.03 RESERVED.........................................................................26
Section 4.04 RESERVED.........................................................................26
Section 4.05 RESERVED.........................................................................27
Section 4.06 EXCHANGE ACT REPORTING...........................................................27
ARTICLE V
The HELOC Master Servicer...........................................................................30
Section 5.01 LIABILITY OF THE HELOC MASTER SERVICER...........................................30
Section 5.02 MERGER OR CONSOLIDATION OF OR ASSUMPTION OF THE
OBLIGATIONS OF THE HELOC MASTER SERVICER.........................................30
Section 5.03 LIMITATION ON LIABILITY OF THE HELOC MASTER SERVICER AND OTHERS..................30
Section 5.04 HELOC MASTER SERVICER NOT TO RESIGN..............................................31
Section 5.05 DELEGATION OF DUTIES.............................................................31
Section 5.06 INDEMNIFICATION...................................................................32
ARTICLE VI
Default.............................................................................................35
Section 6.01 SERVICING DEFAULT................................................................35
Section 6.02 INDENTURE TRUSTEE TO ACT; APPOINTMENT OF SUCCESSOR...............................37
Section 6.03 NOTIFICATION TO CLASS VII-A NOTEHOLDERS..........................................39
Section 6.04 WAIVER OF DEFAULTS...............................................................39
ARTICLE VII
Miscellaneous Provisions............................................................................40
Section 7.01 AMENDMENT........................................................................40
Section 7.02 GOVERNING LAW....................................................................40
Section 7.03 NOTICES..........................................................................40
Section 7.04 SEVERABILITY OF PROVISIONS.......................................................41
Section 7.05 THIRD-PARTY BENEFICIARIES........................................................41
Section 7.06 COUNTERPARTS.....................................................................41
Section 7.07 EFFECT OF HEADINGS AND TABLE OF CONTENTS.........................................41
Section 7.08 TERMINATION......................................................................42
Section 7.09 NO PETITION......................................................................42
ii
Section 7.10 NO RECOURSE......................................................................42
EXHIBIT A - HELOC MORTGAGE LOAN SCHEDULE....................................................A-1
EXHIBIT B - FORM OF REQUEST FOR RELEASE.....................................................B-1
EXHIBIT C-1 - FORM OF CERTIFICATION TO BE PROVIDED BY
THE HELOC MASTER SERVICER WITH FORM 10-K........................................C-1
EXHIBIT C-2 - FORM OF FORM CERTIFICATION TO BE PROVIDED BY
THE INDENTURE TRUSTEE WITH FORM 10-K............................................C-2
EXHIBIT D - FORM OF REMITTANCE REPORT FROM HELOC MASTER SERVICER............................D-1
iii
This Servicing Agreement, dated as of December 21, 2004, among
GMAC Mortgage Corporation, as HELOC Master Servicer (the "HELOC Master Servicer"
), American Home Mortgage Investment Trust 2004-4, as Issuer (the "Issuer") and
The Bank of New York, as Indenture Trustee (the "Indenture Trustee").
W I T N E S S E T H T H A T :
-----------------------------
WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of the Mortgage Loan Purchase
Agreement and the related Group I, Group II, Group III, Group IV, Group V, Group
VI and Group VII Subsequent Mortgage Loan Purchase Agreement, American Home
Mortgage Securities LLC (the "Company" or the "Depositor") will acquire the
Mortgage Loans and the related Group I, Group 2, Group III, Group IV, Group V,
Group VI and Group VII Subsequent Mortgage Loans;
WHEREAS, the Company will create American Home Mortgage
Investment Trust 2004-4, a Delaware statutory trust, and will transfer the
Mortgage Loans and the related Subsequent Mortgage Loans and all of its rights
under the Mortgage Loan Purchase Agreement and the related Group I, Group II,
Group III, Group IV, Group V, Group VI and Group VII Subsequent Mortgage Loan
Purchase Agreement to the Issuer;
WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of an Amended and Restated
Trust Agreement dated as of December 21, 2004 (the "Trust Agreement") among the
Company, as depositor, Wilmington Trust Company, as owner trustee (the "Owner
Trustee") and The Bank of New York, as certificate registrar and certificate
paying agent, the Company will convey the Mortgage Loans to the Issuer in
exchange for the Certificates (as defined below);
WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of the Trust Agreement, the
Issuer will issue and transfer to or at the direction of the Depositor, the
Trust Certificates, 2004-4 (the "Certificates");
WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of an Indenture dated as of
December 21, 2004 (the "Indenture") between the Issuer and The Bank of New York
(the "Indenture Trustee"), the Issuer will pledge the Mortgage Loans and issue
and transfer to or at the direction of the Purchaser the Mortgage-Backed Notes,
Series 2004-4, Class I-A-1, Class I-A-2, Class II-A-1, Class II-A-2, Class
III-A, Class IV-A, Class V-A, Class VI-A-1, Class VI-A-2, Class VII-A, Class
M-1, Class M-2, Class M-3, Class VI-M-1, Class VI-M-2, Class XX-X-0, Xxxxx
XX-X-0, XX-X-0, XX-X-0, Class VII-A and Class N Notes; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of this Servicing Agreement,
the HELOC Master Servicer will service the HELOC Mortgage Loans set forth on the
HELOC Mortgage Loan Schedule attached hereto as Exhibit A directly or through
one or more Subservicers for the benefit of the holders of the Class VII-A
Notes;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants
herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
Definitions
Section 1.01 DEFINITIONS. For all purposes of this Servicing Agreement,
except as otherwise expressly provided herein or unless the context otherwise
requires, capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings
assigned to such terms in the Definitions contained in Appendix A to the
Indenture which is incorporated by reference herein. All other capitalized terms
used herein shall have the meanings specified herein.
Section 1.02 OTHER DEFINITIONAL PROVISIONS.
(a) All terms defined in this Servicing Agreement shall have the
defined meanings when used in any certificate or other document made or
delivered pursuant hereto unless otherwise defined therein.
(b) As used in this Servicing Agreement and in any certificate or
other document made or delivered pursuant hereto or thereto, accounting terms
not defined in this Servicing Agreement or in any such certificate or other
document, and accounting terms partly defined in this Servicing Agreement or in
any such certificate or other document, to the extent not defined, shall have
the respective meanings given to them under generally accepted accounting
principles. To the extent that the definitions of accounting terms in this
Servicing Agreement or in any such certificate or other document are
inconsistent with the meanings of such terms under generally accepted accounting
principles, the definitions contained in this Servicing Agreement or in any such
certificate or other document shall control.
(c) The words "hereof," "herein," "hereunder" and words of similar
import when used in this Servicing Agreement shall refer to this Servicing
Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Servicing
Agreement; Section and Exhibit references contained in this Servicing Agreement
are references to Sections and Exhibits in or to this Servicing Agreement unless
otherwise specified; and the term "including" shall mean "including without
limitation".
(d) The definitions contained in this Servicing Agreement are
applicable to the singular as well as the plural forms of such terms and to the
masculine as well as the feminine and neuter genders of such terms.
(e) Any agreement, instrument or statute defined or referred to
herein or in any instrument or certificate delivered in connection herewith
means such agreement, instrument or statute as from time to time amended,
modified or supplemented and includes (in the case of agreements or instruments)
references to all attachments thereto and instruments incorporated therein;
references to a Person are also to its permitted successors and assigns.
Section 1.03 INTEREST CALCULATIONS. All calculations of interest
hereunder that are made in respect of the Stated Principal Balance of a HELOC
Mortgage Loan shall be made on the basis of a 365/366 day year and the actual
number of days elapsed.
2
ARTICLE II
Representations and Warranties
Section 2.01 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES REGARDING THE HELOC MASTER
SERVICER. The HELOC Master Servicer represents and warrants to the Issuer and
for the benefit of the Indenture Trustee, as pledgee of the Mortgage Loans and
the Class VII-A Noteholders, as of the Cut-off Date and the Closing Date, that:
(i) The HELOC Master Servicer is a corporation duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and has the corporate power to own its
assets and to transact the business in which it is currently engaged.
The HELOC Master Servicer is duly qualified to do business and is in
good standing in each jurisdiction in which the character of the
business transacted by it or properties owned or leased by it requires
such qualification and in which the failure to so qualify would have a
material adverse effect on the business, properties, assets, or
condition (financial or other) of the HELOC Master Servicer or the
validity or enforceability of the HELOC Mortgage Loans;
(ii) The HELOC Master Servicer has the power and authority
to make, execute, deliver and perform this Servicing Agreement and all
of the transactions contemplated under this Servicing Agreement, and
has taken all necessary corporate action to authorize the execution,
delivery and performance of this Servicing Agreement. When executed and
delivered, this Servicing Agreement will constitute the legal, valid
and binding obligation of the HELOC Master Servicer enforceable in
accordance with its terms, except as enforcement of such terms may be
limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting the
enforcement of creditors' rights generally and by the availability of
equitable remedies;
(iii) The HELOC Master Servicer is not required to obtain
the consent of any other Person or any consent, license, approval or
authorization from, or registration or declaration with, any
governmental authority, bureau or agency in connection with the
execution, delivery, performance, validity or enforceability of this
Servicing Agreement, except for such consent, license, approval or
authorization, or registration or declaration, as shall have been
obtained or filed, as the case may be;
(iv) The execution and delivery of this Servicing
Agreement and the performance of the transactions contemplated hereby
by the HELOC Master Servicer will not violate any provision of any
existing law or regulation or any order or decree of any court
applicable to the HELOC Master Servicer or any provision of the
certificate of incorporation or bylaws of the HELOC Master Servicer, or
constitute a material breach of any mortgage, indenture, contract or
other agreement to which the HELOC Master Servicer is a party or by
which the HELOC Master Servicer may be bound;
(v) No litigation or administrative proceeding of or
before any court, tribunal or governmental body is currently pending
(other than litigation with respect to which pleadings
3
or documents have been filed with a court, but not served on the HELOC
Master Servicer), or to the knowledge of the HELOC Master Servicer
threatened, against the HELOC Master Servicer or any of its properties
or with respect to this Servicing Agreement or the Class VII- A Notes
or the Certificates which, to the knowledge of the HELOC Master
Servicer, has a reasonable likelihood of resulting in a material
adverse effect on the transactions contemplated by this Servicing
Agreement; and
(vi) The HELOC Master Servicer is a member of MERS in good
standing, and will comply in all material respects with the rules and
procedures of MERS in connection with the servicing of the HELOC
Mortgage Loans that are registered with MERS.
The foregoing representations and warranties shall survive any
termination of the HELOC Master Servicer hereunder.
Section 2.02 EXISTENCE. The Issuer will keep in full effect its
existence, rights and franchises as a statutory trust under the laws of the
State of Delaware (unless it becomes, or any successor Issuer hereunder is or
becomes, organized under the laws of any other state or of the United States of
America, in which case the Issuer will keep in full effect its existence, rights
and franchises under the laws of such other jurisdiction) and will obtain and
preserve its qualification to do business in each jurisdiction in which such
qualification is or shall be necessary to protect the validity and
enforceability of this Servicing Agreement.
Section 2.03 ENFORCEMENT OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. The HELOC
Master Servicer, on behalf of and subject to the direction of the Indenture
Trustee, as pledgee of the Mortgage Loans shall enforce the representations and
warranties and related obligations for breaches thereof of the Seller pursuant
to the Mortgage Loan Purchase Agreement or the Group VII Subsequent Mortgage
Loan Purchase Agreement. Upon the discovery by the Seller, the HELOC Master
Servicer, the Indenture Trustee or the Company of a breach of any of the
representations and warranties made in the Mortgage Loan Purchase Agreement or
the Group VII Subsequent Mortgage Loan Purchase Agreement in respect of any
HELOC Mortgage Loan which materially and adversely affects the interests of the
Class VII-A Noteholders or the Certificateholders, the party discovering the
same shall give prompt written notice to the other parties. The HELOC Master
Servicer shall promptly notify the Seller and request that, pursuant to the
terms of the Mortgage Loan Purchase Agreement or the Group VII Subsequent
Mortgage Loan Purchase Agreement, the Seller either (i) cure such breach in all
material respects or (ii) purchase such HELOC Mortgage Loan or such Subsequent
Mortgage Loan, in each instance in accordance with the Mortgage Loan Purchase
Agreement or the Group VII Subsequent Mortgage Loan Purchase Agreement; provided
that the Seller shall, subject to the conditions set forth in the Mortgage Loan
Purchase Agreement, have the option to substitute an Eligible Substitute
Mortgage Loan or Eligible Substitute Mortgage Loans for such HELOC Mortgage
Loan. Monthly Payments due with respect to Eligible Substitute Mortgage Loans in
the month of substitution shall not be part of the Trust Estate and will be
retained by the HELOC Master Servicer and remitted by the HELOC Master Servicer
to the Seller on the next succeeding Payment Date. For the month of
substitution, distributions to the Payment Account pursuant to this Agreement
will include the Monthly Payment due on a Deleted Mortgage Loan for such month
and thereafter the Seller shall be entitled to retain all amounts received in
respect of such Deleted Mortgage Loan. The HELOC Master Servicer shall amend or
cause to be amended the HELOC Mortgage Loan
4
Schedule to reflect the removal of such Deleted Mortgage Loan and the
substitution of the related Eligible Substitute Mortgage Loan and the HELOC
Master Servicer shall promptly deliver the amended HELOC Mortgage Loan Schedule
to the related Subservicer, Owner Trustee and Indenture Trustee.
In connection with the substitution of one or more Eligible Substitute
Mortgage Loans for one or more Deleted Mortgage Loans, the HELOC Master Servicer
will determine the amount (such amount, a "Substitution Adjustment Amount"), if
any, by which the aggregate Stated Principal Balance of all such Eligible
Substitute Mortgage Loans as of the date of substitution is less than the
aggregate principal balance of all such Deleted Mortgage Loans (after
application of the principal portion of the Monthly Payments due on such Deleted
Mortgage Loans in the month of substitution that are to be distributed to the
Payment Account in the month of substitution). The Seller shall pay the
Substitution Adjustment Amount to the HELOC Master Servicer and the HELOC Master
Servicer shall deposit such Substitution Adjustment Amount into the Collection
Account upon receipt.
5
ARTICLE III
Administration and Servicing of HELOC Mortgage Loans
Section 3.01 HELOC MASTER SERVICER TO ASSURE SERVICING. (a) The HELOC
Master Servicer shall supervise, or take such actions as are necessary to
ensure, the servicing and administration of the HELOC Mortgage Loans and any REO
Property in accordance with this Servicing Agreement and its normal servicing
practices, which generally shall conform to the standards of an institution
prudently servicing home equity line of credit mortgage loans for its own
account and shall have full authority to do anything it reasonably deems
appropriate or desirable in connection with such servicing and administration.
The HELOC Master Servicer may perform its responsibilities relating to servicing
through other agents or independent contractors, but shall not thereby be
released from any of its responsibilities for the servicing and administration
of the HELOC Mortgage Loans. The authority of the HELOC Master Servicer, in its
capacity as master servicer, and any Subservicer acting on its behalf, shall
include, without limitation, the power to (i) consult with and advise any
Subservicer regarding administration of a related HELOC Mortgage Loan, (ii)
approve any recommendation by a Subservicer to foreclose on a related HELOC
Mortgage Loan, (iii) supervise the filing and collection of insurance claims and
take or cause to be taken such actions on behalf of the insured Person
thereunder as shall be reasonably necessary to prevent the denial of coverage
thereunder, and (iv) effectuate foreclosure or other conversion of the ownership
of the Mortgaged Property securing a related HELOC Mortgage Loan, including the
employment of attorneys, the institution of legal proceedings, the collection of
deficiency judgments, the acceptance of compromise proposals and any other
matter pertaining to a delinquent HELOC Mortgage Loan. The authority of the
HELOC Master Servicer shall include, in addition, the power on behalf of the
Class VII-A Noteholders, the Indenture Trustee or any of them to (i) execute and
deliver customary consents or waivers and other instruments and documents, (ii)
consent to transfer of any related Mortgaged Property and assumptions of the
related Mortgage Notes (in the manner provided in this Servicing Agreement) and
(iii) collect any Insurance Proceeds and Liquidation Proceeds. Without limiting
the generality of the foregoing, the HELOC Master Servicer and any Subservicer
acting on its behalf may, and is hereby authorized, and empowered by the
Indenture Trustee, to execute and deliver, on behalf of itself, the Class VII-A
Noteholders, the Indenture Trustee or any of them, any instruments of
satisfaction, cancellation, partial or full release, discharge and all other
comparable instruments, with respect to the related HELOC Mortgage Loans, the
insurance policies and the accounts related thereto, and the Mortgaged
Properties. The HELOC Master Servicer may exercise this power in its own name or
in the name of a Subservicer.
Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything else to the contrary in this
Servicing Agreement, for so long as a Servicing Default or Servicer Termination
Event is not in effect as provided in the related Subservicing Agreement and
American Home Mortgage Servicing, Inc. is the Subservicer, the responsibilities
of the HELOC Master Servicer shall be limited to review of the reports provided
by this Subservicer in connection with the creation of the Remittance Reports
required of the HELOC Master Servicer pursuant to Section 4.01 of this Servicing
Agreement.
In accordance with the standards of the preceding paragraph, the HELOC
Master Servicer shall advance or cause to be advanced funds as necessary for the
purpose of effecting the payment
6
of taxes and assessments on the Mortgaged Properties, which advances shall be
reimbursable in the first instance from related collections from the Mortgagors
pursuant to Section 3.08, and further as provided in Section 3.07; provided that
the HELOC Master Servicer shall not be obligated to make such advance if, in its
good faith judgment, the HELOC Master Servicer determines that such advance will
be a Nonrecoverable Advance.
The relationship of the HELOC Master Servicer (and of any successor to
the HELOC Master Servicer under this Agreement) to the Indenture Trustee under
this Agreement is intended by the parties to be that of an independent
contractor and not that of a joint venturer, partner or agent; provided,
however, that the HELOC Master Servicer is authorized and empowered by the
Indenture Trustee, on behalf of the Class VII-A Noteholders and the Indenture
Trustee, in its own name or in the name of any Subservicer, when the HELOC
Master Servicer or such Subservicer, as the case may be, believes it is
appropriate in its best judgment to register any HELOC Mortgage Loan on the
MERS(R) System, or cause the removal from the registration of any HELOC Mortgage
Loan on the MERS(R) System, to execute and deliver, on behalf of the Indenture
Trustee and the Class VII-A Noteholders or any of them, any and all instruments
of assignment and other comparable instruments with respect to such assignment
or re-recording of a Mortgage in the name of MERS, solely as nominee for the
Indenture Trustee and its successors and assigns. Any expenses incurred in
connection with the actions described in the preceding sentence shall be borne
by the HELOC Master Servicer in accordance with Section 3.15, with no right of
reimbursement; provided, that if, as a result of MERS discontinuing or becoming
unable to continue operations in connection with the MERS System, it becomes
necessary to remove any HELOC Mortgage Loan from registration on the MERS System
and to arrange for the assignment of the related Mortgages to the Indenture
Trustee, then any related expenses shall be reimbursable to the HELOC Master
Servicer from the Trust Estate.
(b) With respect to each HELOC Mortgage Loan, consistent with the
terms of this Servicing Agreement, the HELOC Master Servicer or the related
Subservicer, as the case may be, may consent to the placing of a lien senior to
that of the Mortgage on the related Mortgaged Property; provided,
(i) the Combined Loan-to-Value Ratio, which may be based
on a new appraisal, of the related HELOC Mortgage Loan immediately
following the modification is not greater than the Combined
Loan-to-Value Ratio of such HELOC Mortgage Loan as of the date such
HELOC Mortgage Loan was originated; or
(ii) in the case of any such action that would result in
an increase in the Combined Loan-to-Value Ratio over the Combined
Loan-to-Value Ratio as of the date such HELOC Mortgage Loan was
originated, the aggregate number of HELOC Mortgage Loans with respect
to which a new senior lien is consented to by the HELOC Master Servicer
does not exceed 5% of the number of HELOC Mortgage Loans as of the
Cut-off Date or 30% of the aggregate Stated Principal Balance of the
HELOC Mortgage Loans as of such date, and the Combined Loan-to-Value
Ratio after giving effect to the modification does not exceed 100%.
7
(c) The HELOC Master Servicer or the related Subservicer, as the
case may be, shall be entitled to (A) execute assumption agreements,
substitution agreements, and instruments of satisfaction or cancellation or of
full release or discharge, or any other document contemplated by this Servicing
Agreement and other comparable instruments with respect to the HELOC Mortgage
Loans and with respect to the Mortgaged Properties subject to the Mortgages (and
the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee each shall promptly execute any such
documents on request of the HELOC Master Servicer and prepared by it) and (B)
approve the granting of an easement thereon in favor of another Person, any
alteration or demolition of the related Mortgaged Property or other similar
matters, if it has determined, exercising its good faith business judgment in
the same manner as it would if it were the owner of the related HELOC Mortgage
Loan, that the security for, and the timely and full collectability of, such
HELOC Mortgage Loan would not be adversely affected thereby. An assumption
pursuant to this Section 3.01 is permitted solely if the creditworthiness of the
prospective purchaser of a Mortgaged Property meets the same or better
underwriting guidelines as those which were applied to the original borrower and
the security for such HELOC Mortgage Loan is not impaired by the assumption. Any
fee collected by the HELOC Master Servicer or the related Subservicer for
processing such request will be retained by the HELOC Master Servicer or such
Subservicer as additional servicing compensation.
(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection 3.01(a), the
HELOC Master Servicer shall not take any action inconsistent with the interests
of the Indenture Trustee or the Class VII-A Noteholders or with the rights and
interests of the Indenture Trustee or the Class VII-A Noteholders under this
Servicing Agreement.
(e) The Indenture Trustee shall execute and return to the HELOC
Master Servicer any limited powers of attorney and other documents in form as
provided to the Indenture Trustee necessary or appropriate to enable the HELOC
Master Servicer to service and administer the related HELOC Mortgage Loans and
REO Property.
(f) With respect to each HELOC Mortgage Loan, the HELOC Master
Servicer or the related Subservicer may also, without approval from the Rating
Agencies or the Insurer, increase the Credit Limit on a HELOC Mortgage Loan if
such increase is consistent with the HELOC Master Servicer's or related
Subservicer's underwriting policies and a new Appraised Value is obtained and
the Combined Loan-to-Value Ratio of the HELOC Mortgage Loan after giving effect
to the increase is less than or equal to the Combined Loan-to-Value Ratio of the
HELOC Mortgage Loan as of the Cut-off Date.
(g) With respect to each HELOC Mortgage Loan, the HELOC Master
Servicer or the related Subservicer may increase the Credit Limits on up to 10%
of the number of HELOC Mortgage Loans as of the Cut-off Date if the increase in
the Credit Limit of any single HELOC Mortgage Loan does not cause the Combined
Loan-to-Value Ratio of such HELOC Mortgage Loan to exceed 100%.
(h) With respect to each HELOC Mortgage Loan, the HELOC Master
Servicer or the related Subservicer, without prior approval from the Rating
Agencies or the Insurer, may solicit Mortgagors for a reduction in Margins on up
to 10% of the number of HELOC Mortgage Loans as of the Cut-off Date, provided
that the cumulative impact of any such Margin reductions shall not
8
result in the reduction of the weighted average Margin of the HELOC Mortgage
Loans as of the Cut-off Date by more than 25 basis points taking into account
any prior reductions.
In no event shall the HELOC Master Servicer or the related Subservicer modify
the maturity of any HELOC Mortgage Loan to a maturity that is later than the
Final Scheduled Payment Date. The HELOC Master Servicer shall not solicit
mortgagors with respect to the related HELOC Mortgage Loans.
Section 3.02 SUBSERVICING AGREEMENTS BETWEEN HELOC MASTER SERVICER AND
SUBSERVICERS. (a) The HELOC Master Servicer may enter into Subservicing
Agreements with Subservicers for the servicing and administration of the HELOC
Mortgage Loans and for the performance of any and all other activities of the
HELOC Master Servicer hereunder. Each Subservicer shall be either (i) an
institution the accounts of which are insured by the FDIC or (ii) another entity
that engages in the business of originating or servicing mortgage loans
comparable to the HELOC Mortgage Loans, and in either case shall be authorized
to transact business in the state or states in which the related Mortgaged
Properties it is to service are situated, if and to the extent required by
applicable law to enable the Subservicer to perform its obligations hereunder
and under the related Subservicing Agreement, and in either case shall be a
Xxxxxxx Mac or Xxxxxx Mae approved mortgage servicer. Any Subservicing Agreement
entered into by the HELOC Master Servicer shall include the provision that such
Agreement may only be terminated with cause and without the payment of any
termination fee by any successor HELOC Master Servicer (including, without
limitation, the Indenture Trustee as successor HELOC Master Servicer) under this
Servicing Agreement. In addition, each Subservicing Agreement shall provide for
servicing of the HELOC Mortgage Loans consistent with the terms of this
Servicing Agreement. The HELOC Master Servicer and the Subservicers may enter
into Subservicing Agreements and make amendments to the Subservicing Agreements
or enter into different forms of Subservicing Agreements providing for, among
other things, the delegation by the HELOC Master Servicer to a Subservicer of
additional duties regarding the administration of the HELOC Mortgage Loans;
provided, however, that any such amendments or different forms shall be
consistent with and not violate the provisions of this Servicing Agreement, and
that no such amendment or different form shall be made or entered into which
could be reasonably expected to be materially adverse to the interests of the
Class VII-A Noteholders, without the consent of the Holders of Notes
representing not less than a majority of the aggregate Note Principal Balance of
the Class VII-A Notes.
(b) As part of its servicing activities hereunder, the HELOC
Master Servicer, for the benefit of the Indenture Trustee, the Insurer and the
Class VII-A Noteholders, shall enforce the obligations of each Subservicer under
the related Subservicing Agreement. Such enforcement, including, without
limitation, the legal prosecution of claims, termination of Subservicing
Agreements and the pursuit of other appropriate remedies, shall be in such form
and carried out to such an extent and at such time as the HELOC Master Servicer,
in its good faith business judgment, would require were it the owner of the
related HELOC Mortgage Loans. The HELOC Master Servicer shall pay the costs of
such enforcement at its own expense, but shall be reimbursed therefor only (i)
from a general recovery resulting from such enforcement only to the extent, if
any, that such recovery exceeds all amounts due in respect of the related
Mortgage Loan or (ii) from a specific recovery of costs, expenses or attorneys'
fees against the party against whom such enforcement is directed.
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Section 3.03 SUCCESSOR SUBSERVICERS. The HELOC Master Servicer shall be
entitled to terminate any Subservicing Agreement that may exist in accordance
with the terms and conditions of such Subservicing Agreement subject to the
terms of Section 3.02(a) of this Servicing Agreement; provided, however, that
upon termination, the HELOC Master Servicer shall either act as servicer of the
related Mortgage Loan or enter into an appropriate contract with a successor
Subservicer and in conformance with the terms of Section 3.02(a) of this
Servicing Agreement pursuant to which such successor Subservicer will be bound
by all relevant terms of the related Subservicing Agreement and this Servicing
Agreement pertaining to the servicing of such HELOC Mortgage Loan.
Section 3.04 LIABILITY OF THE HELOC MASTER SERVICER. (a)
Notwithstanding any Subservicing Agreement, any of the provisions of this
Servicing Agreement relating to agreements or arrangements between the HELOC
Master Servicer and a Subservicer or reference to actions taken through a
Subservicer or otherwise, the HELOC Master Servicer shall under all
circumstances remain obligated and primarily liable to the Indenture Trustee,
the Class VII-A Noteholders, the Insurer and the Certificateholders for the
servicing and administering of the HELOC Mortgage Loans and any REO Property in
accordance with this Servicing Agreement. The obligations and liability of the
HELOC Master Servicer shall not be diminished by virtue of Subservicing
Agreements or by virtue of indemnification of the HELOC Master Servicer by any
Subservicer, or any other Person. The obligations and liability of the HELOC
Master Servicer shall remain of the same nature and under the same terms and
conditions as if the HELOC Master Servicer alone were servicing and
administering the related HELOC Mortgage Loans. The HELOC Master Servicer shall,
however, be entitled to enter into indemnification agreements with any
Subservicer or other Person and nothing in this Servicing Agreement shall be
deemed to limit or modify such indemnification. For the purposes of this
Servicing Agreement, the HELOC Master Servicer shall be deemed to have received
any payment on a HELOC Mortgage Loan on the date the Subservicer received such
payment; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that this sentence shall not apply to the Indenture
Trustee as the successor HELOC Master Servicer; PROVIDED, FURTHER, however, that
the foregoing provision shall not affect the obligation of the HELOC Master
Servicer if it is also the Indenture Trustee to advance amounts which are not
Nonrecoverable Advances.
Any Subservicing Agreement that may be entered into and any
transactions or services relating to the HELOC Mortgage Loans involving a
Subservicer in its capacity as such shall be deemed to be between the
Subservicer and the HELOC Master Servicer alone, and the Indenture Trustee and
the Class VII-A Noteholders shall not be deemed parties thereto and shall have
no claims, rights, obligations, duties or liabilities with respect to the
Subservicer except as set forth in Section 3.05.
Section 3.05 ASSUMPTION OR TERMINATION OF SUBSERVICING AGREEMENTS BY
INDENTURE TRUSTEE. (a) If the Indenture Trustee or a successor HELOC Master
Servicer shall assume the servicing obligations of the HELOC Master Servicer in
accordance with Section 6.02 below, the Indenture Trustee, to the extent
necessary to permit the Indenture Trustee to carry out the provisions of Section
6.02 with respect to the HELOC Mortgage Loans, shall succeed to all of the
rights and obligations of the HELOC Master Servicer under each of the
Subservicing Agreements. In such event, the Indenture Trustee or its designee as
the successor master servicer shall be deemed to have assumed all of the HELOC
Master Servicer's rights and obligations therein and to have replaced the HELOC
10
Master Servicer as a party to such Subservicing Agreements to the same extent as
if such Subservicing Agreements had been assigned to the Indenture Trustee or
its designee as a successor master servicer, except that the Indenture Trustee
or its designee as a successor master servicer shall not be deemed to have
assumed any obligations or liabilities of the HELOC Master Servicer arising
prior to such assumption and the HELOC Master Servicer shall not thereby be
relieved of any liability or obligations under such Subservicing Agreements
arising prior to such assumption. Nothing in the foregoing shall be deemed to
entitle the Indenture Trustee or its designee as a successor master servicer at
any time to receive any portion of the servicing compensation provided under
Section 3.15 except for such portion as the HELOC Master Servicer would be
entitled to receive.
(b) In the event that the Indenture Trustee or a successor HELOC
Master Servicer assumes the servicing obligations of the HELOC Master Servicer
under Section 6.02, upon the reasonable request of the Indenture Trustee or such
successor HELOC Master Servicer, the HELOC Master Servicer shall at its own
expense (or the expense of the Trust, if the HELOC Master Servicer fails to do
so) deliver to the Indenture Trustee, or to such successor HELOC Master
Servicer, photocopies of all documents, files and records, electronic or
otherwise, relating to the Subservicing Agreements and the related HELOC
Mortgage Loans or REO Property then being serviced and an accounting of amounts
collected and held by it, if any, and will otherwise cooperate and use its
reasonable efforts to effect the orderly and efficient transfer of the
Subservicing Agreements, or responsibilities hereunder to the Indenture Trustee,
or to such successor HELOC Master Servicer.
Section 3.06 COLLECTION OF MORTGAGE LOAN PAYMENTS. (a) The HELOC Master
Servicer will coordinate and monitor remittances by Subservicers to it with
respect to the HELOC Mortgage Loans in accordance with this Servicing Agreement.
(b) The HELOC Master Servicer shall make its best reasonable
efforts to collect or cause to be collected all payments required under the
terms and provisions of the HELOC Mortgage Loans and shall follow, and use its
best reasonable efforts to cause Subservicers to follow, collection procedures
comparable to the collection procedures of prudent mortgage lenders servicing
home equity line of credit mortgage loans for their own account to the extent
such procedures shall be consistent with this Servicing Agreement. Consistent
with the foregoing, the HELOC Master Servicer or the related Subservicer may in
its discretion (i) waive or permit to be waived any late payment charge,
prepayment charge, assumption fee, or any penalty interest in connection with
the prepayment of a Mortgage Loan and (ii) arrange or permit an arrangement with
a Mortgagor for the payment of interest due and unpaid; provided, however, that
the HELOC Master Servicer or the related Subservicer may permit the foregoing
only if it believes, in good faith, that recoveries of Monthly Payments will be
maximized; provided further, however, that Monthly Payments may not be suspended
during the twelve months prior to the final maturity of the Class VII-A Notes.
(c) Within five Business Days after the HELOC Master Servicer has
determined that all amounts which it expects to recover from or on account of a
HELOC Mortgage Loan have been recovered and that no further Liquidation Proceeds
or Recoveries will be received in connection therewith, the HELOC Master
Servicer shall cause the related Subservicer to provide to the HELOC Master
Servicer a certificate of a Servicing Officer that such HELOC Mortgage Loan
became a Liquidated Mortgage Loan or a Charged-Off HELOC Mortgage Loan as of the
date of such
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determination. The HELOC Master Servicer shall provide to the Indenture Trustee
a monthly summary of each HELOC Mortgage Loan that became a Liquidated Mortgage
Loan or a Charged- Off HELOC Mortgage Loan.
(d) The HELOC Master Servicer shall establish a segregated account
in the name of the Indenture Trustee for the benefit of the Class VII-A
Noteholders and the Transferor (the "Collection Account"), which shall be an
Eligible Account, in which the HELOC Master Servicer shall deposit or cause to
be deposited any amounts representing payments on and any collections in respect
of the HELOC Mortgage Loans due subsequent to the Cut-off Date (other than in
respect of the payments referred to in the following paragraph) within 48 hours
following receipt thereof (or otherwise on or prior to the Closing Date),
including the following payments and collections received or made by it (without
duplication):
(i) all payments of principal, including Principal
Prepayments, of or interest on the HELOC Mortgage Loans (including
advances by a Subservicer) received by the HELOC Master Servicer
directly from Mortgagors or from the respective Subservicer;
(ii) the aggregate Repurchase Price of the HELOC Mortgage
Loans purchased by the Seller pursuant to Section 3.18;
(iii) Net Liquidation Proceeds;
(iv) all proceeds of any HELOC Mortgage Loans repurchased
by the Seller and the amount of any Transferor Deposit Amount paid by
the Seller during the related Due Period pursuant to the Mortgage Loan
Purchase Agreement, and all Substitution Adjustment Amounts required to
be deposited in connection with the substitution of an Eligible
Substitute Mortgage Loan pursuant to the Mortgage Loan Purchase
Agreement;
(v) Insurance Proceeds, other than Net Liquidation
Proceeds, resulting from any insurance policy maintained on a Mortgaged
Property;
(vi) [Reserved];
(vii) Released Mortgaged Property Proceeds;
(viii) Net Recoveries; and
(ix) any other amounts received by the HELOC Master
Servicer, including any fees or penalties not retained by a
Subservicer, required to be deposited in the Collection Account
pursuant to this Servicing Agreement.
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that with respect to each Due Period, the HELOC Master
Servicer shall be permitted to retain from payments in respect of interest on
the HELOC Mortgage Loans, the HELOC Master Servicing Fee for such Due Period.
The foregoing requirements respecting deposits to the Collection Account are
exclusive, it being understood that, without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, the HELOC Master Servicer need not deposit in the Collection Account
fees (including
12
annual fees or assumption fees) or late charge and prepayment penalties which
fees, late charges and assumption fees shall each be retained by the
Subservicer, payable by Mortgagors, each as further described in Section 3.15,
or amounts received by the Subservicer for the accounts of Mortgagors for
application towards the payment of taxes, insurance premiums, assessments and
similar items, which amounts shall be deposited in the related Servicing Account
pursuant to Section 3.08. In the event any amount not required to be deposited
in the Collection Account is so deposited, the HELOC Master Servicer may at any
time (prior to being terminated under this Agreement) withdraw such amount from
the Collection Account, any provision herein to the contrary notwithstanding.
The HELOC Master Servicer shall keep records that accurately reflect the funds
on deposit in the Collection Account that have been identified by it as being
attributable to the HELOC Mortgage Loans and shall hold all collections in the
Collection Account for the benefit of the Owner Trustee, the Indenture Trustee
and the Class VII-A Noteholders, as their interests may appear. The HELOC Master
Servicer shall remit all Foreclosure Profits to the Collection Account, to the
extent not payable to the related Subservicer.
Funds in the Collection Account may not be invested with, and shall not
be commingled with, the HELOC Master Servicer's own funds or general assets or
with funds respecting payments on mortgage loans or with any other funds not
related to the Class VII-A Notes. Funds in the Collection Account shall be
invested solely in Eligible Investments, designated in the name of the Indenture
Trustee for the benefit of the Class VII-A Noteholders, which shall mature not
later than the Business Day next preceding the HELOC Master Servicer Remittance
Date next following the date of such investment and shall not be sold or
disposed of prior to maturity. All income and gain realized from any such
investment shall be for the benefit of the HELOC Master Servicer or the related
Subservicer. The amount of any losses incurred with respect to any such
investments shall be deposited in the Collection Account by the HELOC Master
Servicer.
(e) The HELOC Master Servicer will require each Subservicer to
hold all funds constituting collections on the HELOC Mortgage Loans, pending
remittance thereof to the HELOC Master Servicer, in one or more accounts meeting
the requirements of an Eligible Account, and invested in Eligible Investments,
and in the name of the Indenture Trustee for the benefit of the Class VII-A
Noteholders. The related Subservicer shall segregate and hold all funds
collected and received pursuant to each HELOC Mortgage Loan separate and apart
from any of its own funds and general assets and any other funds.
Section 3.07 WITHDRAWALS FROM THE COLLECTION ACCOUNT. (a) The HELOC
Master Servicer shall, from time to time as provided herein, make withdrawals
from the Collection Account of amounts on deposit therein pursuant to Section
3.06 that are attributable to the HELOC Mortgage Loans for the following
purposes (without duplication):
(i) to deposit in the Payment Account, by the HELOC
Master Servicer Remittance Date, the Available Funds required to be
distributed as provided in the Indenture on a Payment Date;
(ii) to the extent deposited to the Collection Account, to
reimburse itself or the related Subservicer for previously unreimbursed
expenses incurred in maintaining individual insurance policies pursuant
to Sections 3.10 or 3.11, or Liquidation Expenses, paid pursuant
13
to Section 3.13 or otherwise reimbursable pursuant to the terms of this
Servicing Agreement, such withdrawal right being limited to amounts
received on the related HELOC Mortgage Loans (other than any Repurchase
Price in respect thereto) which represent late recoveries of the
payments for which such advances were made, or from related Liquidation
Proceeds or related Recoveries;
(iii) to pay to itself out of each payment received on
account of interest on a HELOC Mortgage Loan as contemplated by Section
3.15, an amount equal to the related HELOC Master Servicing Fee (to the
extent not retained pursuant to Section 3.06);
(iv) to pay to itself or the Seller, with respect to any
HELOC Mortgage Loan or property acquired in respect thereof that has
been purchased or otherwise transferred to the Seller, the HELOC Master
Servicer or other entity, all amounts received thereon and not required
to be distributed to Class VII-A Noteholders as of the date on which
the related Purchase Price or Repurchase Price is determined;
(v) [Reserved];
(vi) to reimburse the HELOC Master Servicer or any
Subservicer from Insurance Proceeds, Liquidation Proceeds or Recoveries
relating to a particular HELOC Mortgage Loan for amounts expended by
the HELOC Master Servicer or such Subservicer pursuant to Section 3.13
in good faith in connection with the restoration of the related
Mortgaged Property which was damaged by the Uninsured Cause or in
connection with the liquidation of such HELOC Mortgage Loan;
(vii) to pay the HELOC Master Servicer or any Subservicer
(payment to any Subservicer to be subject to prior payment to the HELOC
Master Servicer of an amount equal to the HELOC Master Servicing Fee),
as appropriate, from Liquidation Proceeds, Insurance Proceeds or
Recoveries received in connection with the liquidation of any HELOC
Mortgage Loan, the amount which it or such Subservicer would have been
entitled to receive under subclause (iii) of this Subsection 3.07(a) as
servicing compensation on account of each defaulted Monthly Payment on
such HELOC Mortgage Loan if paid in a timely manner by the related
Mortgagor, but only to the extent that the aggregate of Liquidation
Proceeds, Insurance Proceeds and Recoveries with respect to such HELOC
Mortgage Loan, after any reimbursement to the HELOC Master Servicer or
any Subservicer, pursuant to other subclauses of this Subsection
3.07(a), exceeds the outstanding Stated Principal Balance of such HELOC
Mortgage Loan plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon at the related
Mortgage Rate less the HELOC Master Servicing Fee Rate to but not
including the date of payment (in any event, the aggregate amount of
servicing compensation received by a Subservicer and the HELOC Master
Servicer with respect to any defaulted Monthly Payment shall not exceed
the applicable HELOC Master Servicing Fee);
(viii) to reimburse the HELOC Master Servicer or any
Subservicer for any Nonrecoverable Advance previously made, and not
otherwise reimbursed pursuant to this Subsection 3.07(a);
14
(ix) to withdraw any other amount deposited in the
Collection Account that was not required to be deposited therein
pursuant to Section 3.06;
(x) to withdraw any amount received from a Mortgagor that
is recoverable and sought to be recovered as a voidable preference by a
trustee in bankruptcy pursuant to the Bankruptcy Code in accordance
with a final, nonappealable order of a court having competent
jurisdiction;
(xi) to reimburse the HELOC Master Servicer for costs
incurred by it associated with the environmental report specified in
Section 3.13(e);
(xii) to pay to the Seller, on behalf of the Depositor, to
the extent that principal collections exceed Draws, the outstanding
principal balance of each Additional Balance purchased by the Depositor
from the Seller pursuant to the Mortgage Loan Purchase Agreement; and
(xiii) to clear and terminate the Collection Account
following a termination of the Trust pursuant to Section 8.01 of the
Trust Agreement.
In connection with withdrawals pursuant to clauses (ii), (iii), (iv), (vi) and
(vii), the HELOC Master Servicer's entitlement thereto is limited to collections
or other recoveries on the related HELOC Mortgage Loan, and the HELOC Master
Servicer shall keep and maintain separate accounting, on a HELOC Mortgage Loan
by HELOC Mortgage Loan basis, for the purpose of justifying any withdrawal from
the Collection Account pursuant to such clauses. Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Servicing Agreement, the HELOC Master Servicer shall be
entitled to reimburse itself for any previously unreimbursed expenses incurred
pursuant to Section 3.13 or otherwise reimbursable expenses incurred pursuant to
the terms of this Servicing Agreement, but only to the extent of collections or
other recoveries on the related HELOC Mortgage Loan.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 3.07, the HELOC
Master Servicer shall allow the Subservicers to deduct from amounts received by
them or from the related account maintained by a Subservicer, prior to deposit
in the Collection Account, any portion to which such Subservicers are entitled
hereunder as servicing compensation (including income on Eligible Investments)
or reimbursement of any reimbursable Servicing Advances made by such
Subservicers.
(c) The HELOC Master Servicer shall pay to the Indenture Trustee
interest on any payments to the Payment Account which were due on a HELOC Master
Servicer Remittance Date but were made after the related HELOC Master Servicer
Remittance Date at a rate equal to the federal funds rate from the date due to
the date paid, both inclusive. This interest shall be solely an obligation of
the HELOC Master Servicer and shall not be recoverable by the Indenture Trustee
from the Trust or from any other source.
Section 3.08 COLLECTION OF TAXES ASSESSMENTS AND SIMILAR ITEMS;
SERVICING ACCOUNTS.
The HELOC Master Servicer and any Subservicers shall not be required to
maintain records relating to the payment of taxes, or deposit or retain any
collections from the Mortgagors for the
15
payment of taxes, assessments, insurance premiums, or comparable items, with
respect to the HELOC Mortgage Loans.
Section 3.09 ACCESS TO CERTAIN DOCUMENTATION AND INFORMATION REGARDING
THE HELOC MORTGAGE LOANS. The HELOC Master Servicer shall provide, and shall
cause any Subservicer to provide, to the Indenture Trustee, the Insurer and the
Owner Trustee access to the documentation regarding the related HELOC Mortgage
Loans and REO Property and to the Class VII-A Noteholders, the FDIC, and the
supervisory agents and examiners of the FDIC access to the documentation
regarding the related HELOC Mortgage Loans required by applicable regulations,
such access being afforded without charge but only upon reasonable request and
during normal business hours at the offices of the HELOC Master Servicer or the
Subservicers that are designated by these entities; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that,
unless otherwise required by law, the HELOC Master Servicer or the Subservicer
shall not be required to provide access to such documentation if the provision
thereof would violate the legal right to privacy of any Mortgagor; PROVIDED,
FURTHER, HOWEVER, that the Indenture Trustee, the Insurer and the Owner Trustee
shall coordinate their requests for such access so as not to impose an
unreasonable burden on, or cause an unreasonable interruption of, the business
of the HELOC Master Servicer or any Subservicer. The HELOC Master Servicer and
the Subservicers shall allow representatives of the above entities to photocopy
any of the documentation and shall provide equipment for that purpose at a
charge that covers their own actual out-of-pocket costs.
Section 3.10 RESERVED.
Section 3.11 MAINTENANCE OF HAZARD INSURANCE AND FIDELITY COVERAGE. (a)
The HELOC Master Servicer shall maintain and keep, or cause each Subservicer to
maintain and keep, with respect to each Mortgage Loan and REO Property, in full
force and effect hazard insurance (fire insurance with extended coverage) equal
to the lesser of (i) the maximum insurable value of the improvements securing
such HELOC Mortgage Loan from time to time, (ii) the combined principal balance
owing on such HELOC Mortgage Loan and any mortgage loan senior to such HELOC
Mortgage Loan and (iii) the minimum amount required to compensate for damage or
loss on a replacement cost basis, and containing a standard mortgagee clause,
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the amount of hazard insurance may not be less than the
amount necessary to prevent loss due to the application of any co-insurance
provision of the related policy. Unless applicable state law requires a higher
deductible, the deductible on such hazard insurance policy may be no more than
$1,000 or 1% of the applicable amount of coverage, whichever is less. In the
case of a condominium unit or a unit in a planned unit development, the required
hazard insurance shall take the form of a multi- peril policy covering the
entire condominium project or planned unit development, in an amount equal to at
least 100% of the insurable value based on replacement cost.
(b) Any amounts collected by the HELOC Master Servicer or a
Subservicer under any such hazard insurance policy (other than amounts to be
applied to the restoration or repair of the Mortgaged Property or amounts
released to the Mortgagor in accordance with the HELOC Master Servicer's or a
Subservicer's normal servicing procedures, the Mortgage Note or applicable law)
shall be deposited initially in a Collection Account, for transmittal to the
Payment Account, subject to withdrawal pursuant to Section 3.07.
16
(c) Any cost incurred by a HELOC Master Servicer or a Subservicer
in maintaining any such hazard insurance policy shall not be added to the amount
owing under the HELOC Mortgage Loan for the purpose of calculating monthly
distributions to the Class VII-A Noteholders, notwithstanding that the terms of
the HELOC Mortgage Loan so permit. Such costs shall be recoverable by the HELOC
Master Servicer or a Subservicer out of related late payments by the Mortgagor
or out of Insurance Proceeds or Liquidation Proceeds or by the HELOC Master
Servicer from the Repurchase Price, to the extent permitted by Section 3.07.
(d) No earthquake or other additional insurance is to be required
of any Mortgagor other than pursuant to such applicable laws and regulations as
shall at any time be in force and shall require such additional insurance.
(e) If insurance has not been maintained complying with Subsection
3.11 (a) and there shall have been a loss which would have been covered by such
insurance had it been maintained, the HELOC Master Servicer shall pay, or cause
the related Subservicer to pay, for any necessary repairs.
(f) The HELOC Master Servicer shall present, or cause the related
Subservicer to present, claims under the related hazard insurance.
(g) The HELOC Master Servicer shall obtain and maintain at its own
expense and for the duration of this Servicing Agreement and shall cause each
Subservicer to obtain and maintain a blanket fidelity bond and an errors and
omissions insurance policy covering such Person's officers, employees and other
persons acting on its behalf in connection with its activities under this
Servicing Agreement or the related Subservicing Agreement. The amount of
coverage shall be at least equal to the coverage maintained by the HELOC Master
Servicer acceptable to Xxxxxx Xxx or Xxxxxxx Mac to service loans for it or
otherwise in an amount as is commercially available at a cost that is generally
not regarded as excessive by industry standards. The HELOC Master Servicer shall
promptly notify the Indenture Trustee of any material change in the terms of
such bond or policy. The HELOC Master Servicer shall provide annually to the
Indenture Trustee a certificate of insurance that each such bond and policy are
in effect. If any such bond or policy ceases to be in effect, the HELOC Master
Servicer shall, to the extent possible, give the Indenture Trustee ten days'
notice prior to any such cessation and the HELOC Master Servicer shall use its
reasonable best efforts to obtain a comparable replacement bond or policy, as
the case may be. Any amounts relating to the HELOC Mortgage Loans collected
under each such bond or policy shall be deposited initially in a Collection
Account for transmittal to the Payment Account, subject to withdrawal pursuant
to Section 3.07.
Section 3.12 DUE-ON-SALE CLAUSES; ASSUMPTION AGREEMENTS. (a) In any
case in which the HELOC Master Servicer is notified by any Mortgagor or
Subservicer that a Mortgaged Property relating to a HELOC Mortgage Loan has been
or is about to be conveyed by the Mortgagor, the HELOC Master Servicer shall
enforce, or shall instruct such Subservicer to enforce, any due-on-sale clause
contained in the related Mortgage to the extent permitted under the terms of the
related Mortgage Note and by applicable law. If the HELOC Master Servicer
reasonably believes that such due-on-sale clause cannot be enforced under
applicable law or if the HELOC Mortgage Loan does not contain a due-on-sale
clause, the HELOC Master Servicer is authorized, and may authorize any
Subservicer, to consent to a conveyance subject to the lien of the Mortgage, and
to take or enter into
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an assumption agreement from or with the Person to whom such property has been
or is about to be conveyed, pursuant to which such Person becomes liable under
the related HELOC Mortgage Note and unless prohibited by applicable state law,
such Mortgagor remains liable thereon, on condition, however, that the related
HELOC Mortgage Loan shall continue to be covered by a hazard policy. In
connection with any such assumption, no material term of the related Mortgage
Note may be changed. The HELOC Master Servicer shall forward to the Custodian
the original copy of such assumption agreement, which copy shall be added by the
Custodian to the related Mortgage File and which shall, for all purposes, be
considered a part of such Mortgage File to the same extent as all other
documents and instruments constituting a part thereof. A portion, equal to up to
2% of the Stated Principal Balance of the related HELOC Mortgage Loan, of any
fee or additional interest collected by the HELOC Master Servicer or the related
Subservicer for consenting in any such conveyance or entering into any such
assumption agreement may be retained by the related Subservicer as additional
servicing compensation.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing paragraph or any other provision
of this Servicing Agreement, the HELOC Master Servicer shall not be deemed to be
in default, breach or any other violation of its obligations hereunder by reason
of any assumption of a HELOC Mortgage Loan by operation of law or any conveyance
by the Mortgagor of the related Mortgaged Property or assumption of a HELOC
Mortgage Loan which the HELOC Master Servicer reasonably believes it may be
restricted by law from preventing, for any reason whatsoever or if the exercise
of such right would impair or threaten to impair any recovery under any
applicable insurance policy.
Section 3.13 REALIZATION UPON DEFAULTED HELOC MORTGAGE LOANS. (a) The
HELOC Master Servicer shall, or shall direct the related Subservicer to,
foreclose upon or otherwise comparably convert the ownership of properties
securing any HELOC Mortgage Loans that come into and continue in default and as
to which no satisfactory arrangements can be made for collection of delinquent
payments pursuant to Section 3.06 only if the HELOC Master Servicer determines
that there is sufficient equity in the related Mortgaged Property to justify
such foreclosure, except that the HELOC Master Servicer shall not, and shall not
direct the related Subservicer to, foreclose upon or otherwise comparably
convert a Mortgaged Property if there is evidence of toxic waste or other
environmental hazards thereon unless the HELOC Master Servicer follows the
procedures in Subsection (e) below.
(b) The HELOC Master Servicer shall foreclose or shall direct the
related Subservicer to foreclose on any Mortgaged Property in the name of the
Trustee for the benefit of the Class VII-A Noteholders.
(c) In connection with such foreclosure or other conversion, the
HELOC Master Servicer in conjunction with the related Subservicer, if any, shall
use its best reasonable efforts to preserve REO Property and to realize upon
defaulted HELOC Mortgage Loans in such manner (including short sales) as to
maximize the receipt of principal and interest by the Class VII-A Noteholders,
taking into account, among other things, the timing of foreclosure and the
considerations set forth in Subsection 3.13(d). The foregoing is subject to the
proviso that the HELOC Master Servicer shall not be required to expend its own
funds in connection with any foreclosure or towards the restoration of any
property unless it determines in good faith (i) that such restoration or
foreclosure will increase the proceeds of liquidation of the HELOC Mortgage Loan
to the Class VII-A Noteholders after
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reimbursement to itself for such expenses and (ii) that such expenses will be
recoverable to it either through Liquidation Proceeds (respecting which it shall
have priority for purposes of reimbursements from the Collection Account
pursuant to Section 3.07) or through Insurance Proceeds (respecting which it
shall have similar priority). The HELOC Master Servicer shall be responsible for
all other costs and expenses incurred by it in any such proceedings; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that it shall be entitled to reimbursement thereof (as well as its
normal servicing compensation). Any income from or other funds (net of any
income taxes) generated by REO Property shall be deemed for purposes of this
Servicing Agreement to be Insurance Proceeds.
(d) The Trust Estate shall not acquire any real property (or any
personal property incident to such real property) except in connection with a
default or reasonably foreseeable default of a HELOC Mortgage Loan. In the event
that the Trust Estate acquires any real property (or personal property incident
to such real property) in connection with a default or imminent default of a
HELOC Mortgage Loan, such property shall be disposed of by the HELOC Master
Servicer (or its agent) on behalf of the Trust Estate within two years after its
acquisition by the Trust Estate.
(e) With respect to any HELOC Mortgage Loan as to which the HELOC
Master Servicer or a Subservicer has received notice of, or has actual knowledge
of, the presence of any toxic or hazardous substance on the Mortgaged Property,
the HELOC Master Servicer shall promptly notify the Indenture Trustee and the
Owner Trustee and shall act in accordance with any directions and instructions
provided by the Indenture Trustee, as pledgee of the Issuer. If the Indenture
Trustee, as applicable, has not provided directions and instructions to the
HELOC Master Servicer in connection with any such HELOC Mortgage Loan within 30
days of a request by the HELOC Master Servicer for such directions and
instructions, then the HELOC Master Servicer shall take such action as it deems
to be in the best economic interest of the Trust Estate (other than proceeding
against the Mortgaged Property) and is hereby authorized at such time as it
deems appropriate to release such Mortgaged Property from the lien of the
related Mortgage. The parties hereto acknowledge that the HELOC Master Servicer
shall not obtain on behalf of the Issuer a deed as a result or in lieu of
foreclosure, and shall not otherwise acquire possession of or title to, or
commence any proceedings to acquire possession of or title to, or take any other
action with respect to, any Mortgaged Property, if the Owner Trustee or the
Indenture Trustee could reasonably be considered to be a responsible party for
any liability arising from the presence of any toxic or hazardous substance on
the Mortgaged Property, unless the Owner Trustee or the Indenture Trustee has
been indemnified to its reasonable satisfaction against such liability.
Section 3.14 INDENTURE TRUSTEE TO COOPERATE; RELEASE OF MORTGAGE FILES.
(a) Upon payment in full of any HELOC Mortgage Loan following the end of the
related Draw Period, the HELOC Master Servicer will immediately notify the
Custodian by a certification signed by a Servicing Officer in the form of the
request for release (the "Request for Release") attached hereto as Exhibit B
(which certification shall include a statement to the effect that all amounts
received or to be received in connection with such payment which are required to
be deposited in the Payment Account have been so deposited) and shall request
delivery to the HELOC Master Servicer or Subservicer, as the case may be, of the
related Mortgage File. Upon receipt of such certification and request, the
Custodian shall release the related Mortgage File to the HELOC Master Servicer
or Subservicer and execute and deliver to the HELOC Master Servicer, without
recourse, an instrument of satisfaction of mortgage releasing the lien of the
Mortgage (furnished by the HELOC Master
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Servicer), together with the Mortgage Note with written evidence of cancellation
thereon. In connection with the satisfaction of any MOM Loan, the HELOC Master
Servicer is authorized to cause the removal from the registration on the MERS(R)
System of such Mortgage.
(b) From time to time as is appropriate, for the servicing or
foreclosure of any HELOC Mortgage Loan or collection under an insurance policy,
the HELOC Master Servicer may deliver to the Custodian a Request for Release
signed by a Servicing Officer on behalf of the HELOC Master Servicer in
substantially the form attached as Exhibit B hereto. Upon receipt of the Request
for Release, the Custodian, on behalf of the Indenture Trustee shall deliver the
Mortgage File or any document therein to the HELOC Master Servicer or
Subservicer, as the case may be, as bailee for the Indenture Trustee.
(c) The HELOC Master Servicer shall cause each Mortgage File or
any document therein released pursuant to Subsection 3.14(b) to be returned to
the Custodian as custodian for the Indenture Trustee, when the need therefor no
longer exists, and in any event within 21 days of the HELOC Master Servicer's
receipt thereof, unless the HELOC Mortgage Loan has become a Liquidated Mortgage
Loan or a Charged-Off HELOC Mortgage Loan and the Liquidation Proceeds or
Recoveries relating to the HELOC Mortgage Loan have been deposited in the
Collection Account or such Mortgage File is being used to pursue foreclosure or
other legal proceedings. Prior to return of a Mortgage File or any document to
the Custodian, the HELOC Master Servicer, the related insurer or Subservicer to
whom such file or document was delivered shall retain such file or document in
its respective control as bailee for the Indenture Trustee unless the Mortgage
File or such document has been delivered to an attorney, or to a public trustee
or other public official as required by law, to initiate or pursue legal action
or other proceedings for the foreclosure of the related Mortgaged Property
either judicially or non- judicially, and the HELOC Master Servicer has
delivered to the Custodian a certificate of a Servicing Officer certifying as to
the name and address of the Person to which such Mortgage File or such document
was delivered and the purpose or purposes of such delivery. If a HELOC Mortgage
Loan becomes a Liquidated Mortgage Loan or a Charged-Off HELOC Mortgage Loan,
the HELOC Master Servicer shall deliver the Request for Release with respect
thereto to the Custodian and, upon deposit of the related Liquidation Proceeds
or Recoveries in the Collection Account, the Custodian, on behalf of the
Indenture Trustee, shall deliver the related Mortgage File or any document
therein to the HELOC Master Servicer or Subservicer, as applicable.
(d) The Indenture Trustee shall execute and deliver to the HELOC
Master Servicer any court pleadings, requests for trustee's sale or other
documents prepared for and delivered to the Indenture Trustee for execution
necessary to (i) the foreclosure or trustee's sale with respect to a Mortgaged
Property; (ii) any legal action brought to obtain judgment against any Mortgagor
on the Mortgage Note; (iii) obtain a deficiency judgment against the Mortgagor;
or (iv) enforce any other rights or remedies provided by the Mortgage Note or
otherwise available at law or equity. Together with such documents or pleadings
the HELOC Master Servicer shall deliver to the Indenture Trustee a certificate
of a Servicing Officer in which it requests the Indenture Trustee to execute the
pleadings or documents. The Indenture Trustee and any officer, director,
employee or agent of the Indenture Trustee may rely in good faith on any such
document submitted by the HELOC Master Servicer. The certificate shall certify
and explain the reasons for which the pleadings or documents are required. It
shall further certify that the Indenture Trustee's execution and delivery of the
pleadings
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or documents will not invalidate any insurance coverage under the insurance
policies or invalidate or otherwise affect the lien of the Mortgage, except for
the termination of such a lien upon completion of the foreclosure or trustee's
sale.
Section 3.15 MASTER SERVICING COMPENSATION. (a) As compensation for its
activities hereunder, the HELOC Master Servicer shall be entitled to receive the
HELOC Master Servicing Fee from full payments of accrued interest on each HELOC
Mortgage Loan or as otherwise provided in Section 3.07. The HELOC Master
Servicer shall be solely responsible for paying any and all fees with respect to
a Subservicer and the Trust Estate shall not bear any fees, expenses or other
costs directly associated with any Subservicer.
(b) The related Subservicer may retain additional servicing
compensation in the form of prepayment charges, if any, a portion of the
assumption fees up to 2% of the Stated Principal Balance of the related HELOC
Mortgage Loan, fees for statement of account or payoff, late payment charges, or
otherwise, to the extent such fees are collected from the related Mortgagors or,
with respect to a Liquidated Mortgage Loan, to the extent such fees have
accrued. The HELOC Master Servicer shall be required to pay all expenses it
incurs in connection with servicing activities under this Servicing Agreement
and shall not be entitled in connection with servicing activities under this
Servicing Agreement to reimbursement except as provided in this Servicing
Agreement. Expenses to be paid by the HELOC Master Servicer under this
Subsection 3.15(b) shall include payment of the expenses of the accountants
retained pursuant to Section 3.17.
Section 3.16 ANNUAL STATEMENTS OF COMPLIANCE. No later than March 15 of
each year, commencing in March 2005, the HELOC Master Servicer at its own
expense shall deliver to the Indenture Trustee, with a copy to the Insurer and
the Rating Agencies, an Officer's Certificate stating, as to the signer thereof,
that (i) a review of the activities of the HELOC Master Servicer during the
preceding calendar year and of performance under this Servicing Agreement has
been made under such officer's supervision, (ii) to the best of such officer's
knowledge, based on such review, the HELOC Master Servicer has fulfilled all its
obligations under this Servicing Agreement for such year, or, if there has been
a default in the fulfillment of any such obligation, specifying each such
default known to such officer and the nature and status thereof including the
steps being taken by the HELOC Master Servicer to remedy such default; (iii) a
review of the activities of each Subservicer during the Subservicer's most
recently ended calendar year on or prior to December 31 of the preceding year
and its performance under its Subservicing Agreement has been made under such
officer's supervision; and (iv) to the best of the Servicing Officer's
knowledge, based on his review and the certification of an officer of the
Subservicer (unless the Servicing Officer has reason to believe that reliance on
such certification is not justified), either each Subservicer has performed and
fulfilled its duties, responsibilities and obligations under this Servicing
Agreement and its Subservicing Agreement in all material respects throughout the
year, or, if there has been a default in performance or fulfillment of any such
duties, responsibilities or obligations, specifying the nature and status of
each such default known to the Servicing Officer. Copies of such statements
shall be provided by the HELOC Master Servicer to the Class VII-A Noteholders
upon request or by the Indenture Trustee at the expense of the HELOC Master
Servicer should the HELOC Master Servicer fail to provide such copies.
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Section 3.17 ANNUAL INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS' SERVICING REPORT.
(a) No later than March 15 of each year, commencing in March 2005, the HELOC
Master Servicer, at its expense, shall cause a firm of independent public
accountants which is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public
Accountants and which is Deloitte & Touche LLP (or a successor thereof) to
furnish a statement to the HELOC Master Servicer, which will be provided to the
Indenture Trustee, the Insurer and the Rating Agencies, to the effect that, in
connection with the firm's examination of the HELOC Master Servicer's financial
statements as of the end of the preceding calendar year, nothing came to their
attention that indicated that the HELOC Master Servicer was not in compliance
with this Agreement, including Sections 3.06, 3.07 and 3.08 except for (i) such
exceptions as such firm believes to be immaterial and (ii) such other exceptions
as are set forth in such statement.
(b) No later than March 15 of each year, commencing in March 2005,
the HELOC Master Servicer, at its expense, shall or shall cause each Subservicer
to cause a nationally recognized firm of independent certified public
accountants to furnish to the HELOC Master Servicer or such Subservicer a report
stating that (i) it has obtained a letter of representation regarding certain
matters from the management of the HELOC Master Servicer or such Subservicer
which includes an assertion that the HELOC Master Servicer or such Subservicer
has complied with certain minimum mortgage loan servicing standards (to the
extent applicable to residential mortgage loans) identified in the Uniform
Single Attestation Program for Mortgage Bankers established by the Mortgage
Bankers Association of America with respect to the servicing of mortgage loans
similar to the HELOC Mortgage Loans during the most recently completed calendar
year and (ii) on the basis of an examination conducted by such firm in
accordance with standards established by the American Institute of Certified
Public Accountants, such representation is fairly stated in all material
respects, subject to such exceptions and other qualifications that may be
appropriate. Immediately upon receipt of such report, the HELOC Master Servicer
shall or shall cause each Subservicer to furnish a copy of such report to the
Indenture Trustee, the Insurer and the Rating Agencies. Any annual independent
public accountants' report furnished pursuant to this Section 3.17 shall be in
such form as shall permit such report to be filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission as part of the Issuer's annual report on Form 10-K filed
pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and no such annual
independent public accountant's report shall contain any language restricting,
limiting or prohibiting such use of such report.
Section 3.18 OPTIONAL PURCHASE OF DEFAULTED HELOC MORTGAGE LOANS. The
Seller may, on behalf of the Issuer, but is not obligated to, repurchase from
the Issuer any HELOC Mortgage Loan delinquent in payment for a period of 90 days
or longer (a "90-Day Delinquent Mortgage Loan") for a price equal to the
Repurchase Price. Any such 90-Day Delinquent HELOC Mortgage Loan shall only be
eligible for purchase pursuant to this Section during the period beginning on
the first Business Day of the Calendar Quarter following the Calendar Quarter in
which such HELOC Mortgage Loan became a 90-Day Delinquent HELOC Mortgage Loan,
and ending at the close of business on the second-to-last Business Day of such
following Calendar Quarter. Such option if not exercised shall not thereafter be
reinstated as to any HELOC Mortgage Loan, unless the delinquency is cured and
the HELOC Mortgage Loan thereafter again becomes delinquent in payment by 90
days or more in a subsequent Calendar Quarter. Any such purchase shall be
accomplished as provided in Subsection 2.03 hereof. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Indenture Trustee, whether acting as Indenture Trustee or in the
capacity of successor HELOC Master Servicer, shall have no obligation hereunder
or under any other Basic Document to repurchase any HELOC Mortgage Loan.
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Section 3.19 INFORMATION REQUIRED BY THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE
GENERALLY AND REPORTS OF FORECLOSURES AND ABANDONMENTS OF MORTGAGED PROPERTY.
The HELOC Master Servicer shall prepare and deliver, or cause to be prepared and
delivered by the related Subservicer, all federal and state information reports
when and as required by all applicable state and federal income tax laws. In
particular, with respect to the requirement under Section 6050J of the Code to
the effect that the HELOC Master Servicer or a Subservicer shall make reports of
foreclosures and abandonments of any mortgaged property for each year beginning
in 2004, the HELOC Master Servicer or Subservicer shall file reports relating to
each instance occurring during the previous calendar year in which the HELOC
Master Servicer or such Subservicer (i) acquires an interest in any Mortgaged
Property through foreclosure or other comparable conversion in full or partial
satisfaction of a HELOC Mortgage Loan, or (ii) knows or has reason to know that
any Mortgaged Property has been abandoned. The reports from the HELOC Master
Servicer or Subservicer shall be in form and substance sufficient to meet the
reporting requirements imposed by Section 6050J, Section 6050H (reports relating
to mortgage interest received) and Section 6050P of the Code (reports relating
to cancellation of indebtedness).
Section 3.20 TRANSFERS OF HELOC MORTGAGE LOANS AT ELECTION OF THE
SELLER. Subject to the conditions below, the Seller may require the transfer of
HELOC Mortgage Loans from the Trust to the Seller as of the close of business on
a Payment Date (the "Transfer Date"). In connection with any transfer, the
Transferor Interest shall be reduced by the aggregate Stated Principal Balances
as of their Transfer Date of the HELOC Mortgage Loans transferred. On the fifth
Business Day (the "Transfer Notice Date") before the Transfer Date designated in
the notice, the Seller shall give the Owner Trustee, the Indenture Trustee, the
HELOC Master Servicer, the Depositor and the Insurer a notice of the proposed
transfer that contains a list of randomly selected HELOC Mortgage Loans to be
transferred. These transfers of HELOC Mortgage Loans shall be permitted if the
following conditions are satisfied:
(i) No Rapid Amortization Event has occurred.
(ii) On the Transfer Date the Transferor Interest Principal Balance
(after giving effect to the removal of the HELOC Mortgage Loans proposed to be
transferred) exceeds the Minimum Transferor Interest.
(iii) The transfer of any HELOC Mortgage Loans on any Transfer Date
during the Managed Amortization Period shall not, in the reasonable belief of
the Seller, cause a Rapid Amortization Event to occur or an event that with
notice or lapse of time or both would constitute a Rapid Amortization Event.
(iv) By the Transfer Date, the Seller shall have delivered to the
Indenture Trustee a revised HELOC Mortgage Loan Schedule, reflecting the
proposed transfer and the Transfer Date, and the HELOC Master Servicer shall
have marked on its general accounting records to show that the HELOC Mortgage
Loans transferred to the Seller are no longer owned by the Trust.
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(v) The Seller shall represent and warrant that no selection
procedures reasonably believed by the Seller to be adverse to the interests of
the Class VII-A Noteholders or the Insurer were used in selecting the HELOC
Mortgage Loans to be removed from the Trust.
(vi) In connection with each transfer of HELOC Mortgage Loans
pursuant to this Section, each Rating Agency and the Insurer shall have received
by the related Transfer Notice Date notice of the proposed transfer of HELOC
Mortgage Loans and, before the Transfer Date, each Rating Agency shall have
notified the Seller, the Indenture Trustee, the Depositor and the Insurer that
the transfer of HELOC Mortgage Loans would not result in a reduction or
withdrawal of its then current rating of the Class VII-A Notes without regard to
the Insurance Policy.
(vii) The Seller shall have delivered to the Owner Trustee, the
Depositor, the Indenture Trustee, and the Insurer an Officer's Certificate
certifying that the items in subparagraphs (i) through (vi), inclusive, have
been performed or are true, as the case may be. The Owner Trustee and the
Indenture Trustee may conclusively rely on the Officer's Certificate, shall have
no duty to make inquiries with regard to the matters in it, and shall incur no
liability in so relying.
Upon receiving the requisite information from the Seller, the HELOC
Master Servicer shall perform in a timely manner those acts required of it, as
specified above. Upon satisfaction of the above conditions, on the Transfer Date
each of the Indenture Trustee and the HELOC Master Servicer shall effect
delivery to the Seller of the portion of the Mortgage File in its possession for
each HELOC Mortgage Loan being so transferred, and the Indenture Trustee shall
execute and deliver to the Seller any other documents prepared by the Seller
reasonably necessary to transfer the HELOC Mortgage Loans to the Seller. This
transfer of the Trust's interest in HELOC Mortgage Loans shall be without
recourse, representation, or warranty by the Indenture Trustee or the Trust to
the Seller.
Section 3.21 TRANSFERS OF HELOC MORTGAGE LOANS WITH LOCKED BALANCES. In
the event that the aggregate amount of Locked Balances exceeds 10% of the total
outstanding Stated Principal Balance of the Group VII Loans as of the end of any
Due Period the Seller will (i) accept a retransfer of related HELOC Mortgage
Loans with Locked Balances in an amount equal to the amount necessary to reduce
the aggregate amount of Locked Balances to an amount equal to or less than 10%
of the total outstanding Stated Principal Balance of the Group VII Loans at the
end of the related Due Period, and (ii) on the Business Day prior to the related
Payment Date following the end of such Due Period, deposit to the Payment
Account cash equal to the aggregate Repurchase Prices of such HELOC Mortgage
Loans. Such retransfer will be accomplished in accordance with the procedures in
the last paragraph of Section 3.20 and the HELOC Mortgage Loans subject to
retransfer will be selected randomly.
ARTICLE IV
Servicing Certificate
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Section 4.01 REMITTANCE REPORTS. On or prior to each Determination
Date, the HELOC Master Servicer shall deliver to the Indenture Trustee a report,
prepared as of the close of business on the Determination Date (the "Remittance
Report"), in the form of a disk or such other electronic method as to which the
HELOC Master Servicer and Indenture Trustee shall agree. Such report shall
detail the payments and collections in respect of the HELOC Mortgage Loans for
each of the categories of deposit specified in Section 3.06(d) and each of the
categories of withdrawal specified in Section 3.07(a). In addition, the report
shall detail the amounts for each of the categories specified in the preceding
sentence that are to be included in interest collections and principal
collections for the related Payment Date. The Remittance Report and any written
information supplemental thereto shall include such information with respect to
the HELOC Mortgage Loans that is reasonably available to the HELOC Master
Servicer and that is required by the Indenture Trustee for purposes of making
the calculations and providing the reports referred to in the Indenture, as set
forth in written specifications or guidelines issued by the Indenture Trustee
from time to time.
The determination by the HELOC Master Servicer of such amounts shall,
in the absence of obvious error, be presumptively deemed to be correct for all
purposes hereunder and the Owner Trustee and Indenture Trustee shall be
protected in relying upon the same without any independent check or
verification. The Indenture Trustee shall have no obligation to recompute,
recalculate or verify any information provided to it by the HELOC Master
Servicer.
Section 4.02 RESERVED.
Section 4.03 RESERVED.
Section 4.04 RESERVED.
Section 4.05 RESERVED.
Section 4.06 EXCHANGE ACT REPORTING. (a) The Indenture Trustee and the
HELOC Master Servicer shall reasonably cooperate with the Issuer and the
Depositor in connection with the Trust's satisfying the reporting requirements
under the Exchange Act. The Indenture Trustee shall prepare on behalf of the
Trust any Forms 8-K, or other comparable Form containing the same or comparable
information or other information mutually agreed upon, (other than the initial
report on Form 8-K) and 10-K customary for similar securities as required by the
Exchange Act and the Rules and Regulations of the Commission thereunder, and the
Depositor shall sign (or shall cause another entity acceptable to the Commission
to sign) and the Indenture Trustee shall file (via the Commission's Electronic
Data Gathering and Retrieval System) such forms on behalf of the Depositor or
Issuer (or such other entity). The Depositor and the Issuer hereby grant to the
Indenture Trustee a limited power of attorney to execute any Form 8-K and file
each such document on behalf of the Depositor and the Issuer. Such power of
attorney shall continue until the earlier of (i) receipt by the Indenture
Trustee from the Depositor and the Issuer of written termination of such power
of attorney and (ii) the termination of the Trust. Notwithstanding anything
herein or in the Indenture to the contrary, the Depositor, and not the Indenture
Trustee, shall be responsible for executing each Form 10-K filed on behalf of
the Trust.
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(b) The Depositor shall prepare and file or cause to be prepared
and filed the initial current report on Form 8-K for the Issuer. Each Form 8-K
thereafter shall be filed by the Indenture Trustee within 15 days after each
Distribution Date, with a copy of the statement to the Certificateholders for
such Distribution Date as an exhibit thereto. If expressly instructed in writing
by the Depositor, the Indenture Trustee shall, in accordance with industry
standards, prepare and deliver to the Depositor for execution a Form 15
Suspension Notice with respect to the Issuer. Prior to (unless and until a Form
15 Suspension Notice shall have been filed) March 30th of each year (or such
earlier date as may be required or permitted by the Exchange Act and the Rules
and Regulations of the Commission), the Indenture Trustee shall file a Form
10-K, in substance as required by applicable law or applicable Commission
staff's interpretations. The Indenture Trustee shall prepare the Form 10-K and
provide the Depositor with the Form 10-K no later than March 25th of each year.
The Depositor shall execute such Form 10-K upon its receipt and shall provide
the original of such executed Form 10-K to the Indenture Trustee no later than
March 27th of each year. Such Form 10-K shall include as exhibits the HELOC
Master Servicer's annual statement of compliance described under Section 3.16
and the accountant's report described under Section 3.17, in each case to the
extent they have been timely delivered to the Indenture Trustee. If they are not
so timely delivered, the Indenture Trustee shall file an amended Form 10-K
including such documents as exhibits reasonably promptly after they are
delivered to the Indenture Trustee. The Indenture Trustee shall have no
liability with respect to any failure to properly prepare or file such periodic
reports resulting from or relating to the Indenture Trustee's inability or
failure to obtain any information not resulting from its own negligence or
willful misconduct. The Form 10-K shall also include a certification in the form
attached hereto as Exhibit C-1 (the "Certification"), in compliance with Rules
13a-14 and 15d-14 under the Exchange Act and any additional directives of the
Commission, which shall be signed by the senior officer of the HELOC Master
Servicer in charge of securitization.
(c) In addition, the Indenture Trustee shall sign a certification
(in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C-2) for the benefit of the HELOC Master
Servicer and its officers, directors and Affiliates regarding certain aspects of
items 1 through 3 of the Certification (provided, however, that the Indenture
Trustee shall not undertake an analysis of any accountant's report attached as
an exhibit to the Form 10-K).
(d) In addition, (i) the Indenture Trustee shall indemnify and
hold harmless the Issuer and the Depositor and their officers, directors and
Affiliates from and against any losses, damages, penalties, fines, forfeitures,
reasonable and necessary legal fees and related costs, judgments and other costs
and expenses arising out of or based upon a failure of the Indenture Trustee to
deliver the certification referred to in clause (c) above, and (ii) the HELOC
Master Servicer shall indemnify and hold harmless the the Issuer, the Depositor
and their respective officers, directors and Affiliates from and against any
losses, damages, penalties, fines, forfeitures, reasonable and necessary legal
fees and related costs, judgments and other costs and expenses arising out of or
based upon a breach of the HELOC Master Servicer's obligations under this
Section 4.06 or the HELOC Master Servicer's negligence, bad faith or willful
misconduct in connection therewith.
(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Basic Documents,
the provisions of this Section 4.06 may be amended by the HELOC Master Servicer,
the Issuer, the Seller and the Indenture Trustee without the consent of the
Securityholders.
26
27
ARTICLE V
The HELOC Master Servicer
Section 5.01 LIABILITY OF THE HELOC MASTER SERVICER. The HELOC Master
Servicer shall be liable in accordance herewith only to the extent of the
obligations specifically imposed upon and undertaken by the HELOC Master
Servicer herein.
Section 5.02 MERGER OR CONSOLIDATION OF OR ASSUMPTION OF THE
OBLIGATIONS OF THE HELOC MASTER SERVICER. Any corporation into which the HELOC
Master Servicer may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated,
or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to
which the HELOC Master Servicer shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding
to the business of the HELOC Master Servicer, shall be the successor of the
HELOC Master Servicer hereunder, without the execution or filing of any paper or
any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto, anything herein to the
contrary notwithstanding; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the successor or surviving
Person to the HELOC Master Servicer shall be qualified to sell mortgage loans to
and service mortgage loans for Xxxxxx Xxx or Xxxxxxx Mac.
The HELOC Master Servicer may assign its rights and delegate its duties
and obligations under this Servicing Agreement; PROVIDED, that the Person
accepting such assignment or delegation shall be a Person which is qualified to
service mortgage loans on behalf of Xxxxxx Mae or Xxxxxxx Mac, is reasonably
satisfactory to the Indenture Trustee (as pledgee of the Mortgage Loans) and the
Company (in its sole discretion), is willing to service the HELOC Mortgage Loans
and executes and delivers to the Indenture Trustee and the Company an agreement,
in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Indenture Trustee and the
Company, which contains an assumption by such Person of the due and punctual
performance and observance of each covenant and condition to be performed or
observed by the HELOC Master Servicer under this Servicing Agreement; PROVIDED,
FURTHER, that each Rating Agency's rating of the applicable Class VII-A Notes in
effect immediately prior to such assignment and delegation will not be
qualified, reduced, or withdrawn as a result of such assignment and delegation
(as evidenced by a letter to such effect from each Rating Agency) or considered
to be below investment grade.
Section 5.03 LIMITATION ON LIABILITY OF THE HELOC MASTER SERVICER AND
OTHERS. Neither the HELOC Master Servicer nor any of the directors or officers
or employees or agents of the HELOC Master Servicer shall be under any liability
to the Company, the Issuer, the Owner Trustee, the Indenture Trustee or the
Class VII-A Noteholders for any action taken or for refraining from the taking
of any action in good faith pursuant to this Servicing Agreement, PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that this provision shall not protect the HELOC Master Servicer or any
such Person against any liability which would otherwise be imposed by reason of
its willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its
duties hereunder or by reason of its reckless disregard of its obligations and
duties hereunder. The HELOC Master Servicer and any director or officer or
employee or agent of the HELOC Master Servicer may rely in good faith on any
document of any kind PRIMA FACIE properly executed and submitted by any Person
respecting any matters arising hereunder. The HELOC Master Servicer and any
director or officer or employee or agent of the HELOC Master Servicer shall be
indemnified by the Company and held harmless against any loss,
28
liability or expense incurred in connection with any legal action relating to
this Servicing Agreement or the Class VII-A Notes, including any amount paid to
the Owner Trustee or the Indenture Trustee pursuant to Section 5.06(b), other
than any loss, liability or expense related to any specific HELOC Mortgage Loan
or HELOC Mortgage Loans (except as any such loss, liability or expense shall be
otherwise reimbursable pursuant to this Servicing Agreement) and any loss,
liability or expense incurred by reason of its willful misfeasance, bad faith or
gross negligence in the performance of its duties hereunder or by reason of its
reckless disregard of its obligations and duties hereunder. The HELOC Master
Servicer shall not be under any obligation to appear in, prosecute or defend any
legal action which is not incidental to its duties to service the HELOC Mortgage
Loans in accordance with this Servicing Agreement, and which in its opinion may
involve it in any expense or liability; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the HELOC Master
Servicer may in its sole discretion undertake any such action which it may deem
necessary or desirable in respect of this Servicing Agreement, and the rights
and duties of the parties hereto and the interests of the Securityholders
hereunder. In such event, the reasonable legal expenses and costs of such action
and any liability resulting therefrom shall be expenses, costs and liabilities
of the Company, and the HELOC Master Servicer shall be entitled to be reimbursed
therefor. The HELOC Master Servicer's right to indemnity or reimbursement
pursuant to this Section 5.03 shall survive any resignation or termination of
the HELOC Master Servicer pursuant to Sections 5.04 or 6.01 with respect to any
losses, expenses, costs or liabilities arising prior to such resignation or
termination (or arising from events that occurred prior to such resignation or
termination).
Section 5.04 HELOC MASTER SERVICER NOT TO RESIGN. Subject to the
provisions of Section 5.02, the HELOC Master Servicer shall not resign from the
obligations and duties hereby imposed on it except (i) upon determination that
the performance of its obligations or duties hereunder are no longer permissible
under applicable law (any such determination permitting the resignation of the
HELOC Master Servicer shall be evidenced by an Opinion of Counsel to such effect
delivered to the Indenture Trustee) or (ii) upon satisfaction of the following
conditions: (a) the HELOC Master Servicer has proposed a successor servicer to
the Company and the Indenture Trustee in writing and such proposed successor
servicer is reasonably acceptable to the Company and the Indenture Trustee; and
(b) each Rating Agency shall have delivered a letter (obtained by and at the
expense of the HELOC Master Servicer) to the Company and the Indenture Trustee
prior to the appointment of the successor servicer stating that the proposed
appointment of such successor servicer as HELOC Master Servicer hereunder will
not result in the reduction, qualification or withdrawal of the then current
rating of the Class VII-A Notes; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that no such resignation by
the HELOC Master Servicer shall become effective until such successor servicer
shall have assumed the HELOC Master Servicer's responsibilities and obligations
hereunder or another successor HELOC Master Servicer has been appointed in
accordance with Section 6.02 and has accepted such appointment. Any such
resignation shall not relieve the HELOC Master Servicer of responsibility for
any of the obligations specified in Sections 6.01 and 6.02 as obligations that
survive the resignation or termination of the HELOC Master Servicer. The HELOC
Master Servicer shall have no claim (whether by subrogation or otherwise) or
other action against any Noteholder for any amounts paid by the HELOC Master
Servicer pursuant to any provision of this Servicing Agreement.
Section 5.05 DELEGATION OF DUTIES. In the ordinary course of business,
the HELOC Master Servicer at any time may delegate any of its duties hereunder
to any Person, including any of its Affiliates, who agrees to conduct such
duties in accordance with standards comparable to those with
29
which the HELOC Master Servicer complies pursuant to Section 3.01. Such
delegation shall not relieve the HELOC Master Servicer of its liabilities and
responsibilities with respect to such duties and shall not constitute a
resignation within the meaning of Section 5.04.
Section 5.06 INDEMNIFICATION. The HELOC Master Servicer agrees to
indemnify the Indenture Trustee and the Owner Trustee for, and to hold the
Indenture Trustee and the Owner Trustee, as the case may be, harmless against,
any claim, tax, penalty, loss, liability or expense of any kind whatsoever,
incurred without negligence (gross negligence in the case of the Owner Trustee)
or willful misconduct on its part, arising out of, or in connection with, the
failure by the HELOC Master Servicer to perform its duties in compliance with
this Servicing Agreement, including the costs and expenses (including reasonable
legal fees and expenses) of defending against any claim in connection with the
exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties under any Basic Document,
provided that:
(i) with respect to any such claim, the Indenture Trustee
or Owner Trustee, as the case may be, shall have given the HELOC Master
Servicer written notice thereof promptly after the Indenture Trustee or
Owner Trustee, as the case may be, shall have actual knowledge thereof,
it being understood that failure to give such notice shall not relieve
the HELOC Master Servicer of its indemnification obligations hereunder;
(ii) while maintaining control over its own defense, the
Company, the Indenture Trustee or Owner Trustee, as the case may be,
shall cooperate and consult fully with the HELOC Master Servicer in
preparing such defense; and
(iii) notwithstanding anything in this Servicing Agreement
to the contrary, the HELOC Master Servicer shall not be liable for
settlement of any claim by the Indenture Trustee or the Owner Trustee,
as the case may be, entered into without the prior consent of the HELOC
Master Servicer, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
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ARTICLE VI
Default
Section 6.01 SERVICING DEFAULT. If any one of the following events
(each, a "Servicing Default") shall occur and be continuing:
(i) Any failure by the HELOC Master Servicer to deposit
in the Collection Account or Payment Account any deposit required to be
made under the terms of this Servicing Agreement which continues
unremedied for a period of two (2) Business Days after the date upon
which written notice of such failure shall have been given to the HELOC
Master Servicer by the Company, the Issuer or the Indenture Trustee; or
(ii) Failure on the part of the HELOC Master Servicer duly
to observe or perform in any material respect any representation or
warranty of the HELOC Master Servicer or any other covenants or
agreements of the HELOC Master Servicer (including the making of
Servicing Advances) set forth in this Servicing Agreement, which
failure, in each case, materially and adversely affects the interests
of Class VII-A Noteholders and which continues unremedied for a period
of 30 days after the date on which written notice of such failure,
requiring the same to be remedied, and stating that such notice is a
"Notice of Default" hereunder, shall have been given to the HELOC
Master Servicer by the Company, the Issuer or the Indenture Trustee; or
(iii) The entry against the HELOC Master Servicer of a
decree or order by a court or agency or supervisory authority having
jurisdiction in the premises for the appointment of a trustee,
conservator, receiver or liquidator in any insolvency, conservatorship,
receivership, readjustment of debt, marshaling of assets and
liabilities or similar proceedings, or for the winding up or
liquidation of its affairs, and the continuance of any such decree or
order unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days; or
(iv) The HELOC Master Servicer shall voluntarily go into
liquidation, consent to the appointment of a conservator, receiver,
liquidator or similar person in any insolvency, readjustment of debt,
marshaling of assets and liabilities or similar proceedings of or
relating to the HELOC Master Servicer or of or relating to all or
substantially all of its property, or a decree or order of a court,
agency or supervisory authority having jurisdiction in the premises for
the appointment of a conservator, receiver, liquidator or similar
person in any insolvency, readjustment of debt, marshaling of assets
and liabilities or similar proceedings, or for the winding-up or
liquidation of its affairs, shall have been entered against the HELOC
Master Servicer and such decree or order shall have remained in force
undischarged, unbonded or unstayed for a period of 60 days; or the
HELOC Master Servicer shall admit in writing its inability to pay its
debts generally as they become due, file a petition to take advantage
of any applicable insolvency or reorganization statute, make an
assignment for the benefit of its creditors or voluntarily suspend
payment of its obligations;
31
then, and in every such case, so long as a Servicing Default shall not have been
remedied by the HELOC Master Servicer, either the holders of at least 51% of the
aggregate Note Principal Balance of the Class VII-A Notes or the Issuer may,
subject to the direction of the Indenture Trustee as pledgee of the Mortgage
Loans, by notice then given to the HELOC Master Servicer, terminate all of the
rights and obligations of the HELOC Master Servicer as servicer under this
Servicing Agreement other than its right to receive servicing compensation and
expenses for servicing the HELOC Mortgage Loans hereunder during any period
prior to the date of such termination and the Issuer, subject to the direction
of the Indenture Trustee as pledgee of the Mortgage Loans may exercise any and
all other remedies available at law or equity. Any such notice to the HELOC
Master Servicer shall also be given to each Rating Agency, the Company and the
Issuer. On or after the receipt by the HELOC Master Servicer of such written
notice, all authority and power of the HELOC Master Servicer under this
Servicing Agreement, whether with respect to the Class VII-A Notes or the HELOC
Mortgage Loans or otherwise, shall pass to and be vested in the Indenture
Trustee, pursuant to and under this Section 6.01; and, without limitation, the
Indenture Trustee is hereby authorized and empowered to execute and deliver, on
behalf of the HELOC Master Servicer, as attorney-in-fact or otherwise, any and
all documents and other instruments, and to do or accomplish all other acts or
things necessary or appropriate to effect the purposes of such notice of
termination, whether to complete the transfer and endorsement of each HELOC
Mortgage Loan and related documents, or otherwise. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the parties hereto and the Securityholders by their acceptance of any
Security, acknowledge and agree that there will be a period of transition before
the actual servicing functions can be fully transferred to the Indenture
Trustee, as successor HELOC Master Servicer, or to a successor HELOC Master
Servicer appointed by the Indenture Trustee pursuant to the provisions hereof,
provided, that the Indenture Trustee shall use its reasonable best efforts to
succeed to the actual servicing functions or find a successor HELOC Master
Servicer as soon as possible but no later than 90 days after such termination.
The HELOC Master Servicer agrees to cooperate with the Indenture Trustee in
effecting the termination of the responsibilities and rights of the HELOC Master
Servicer hereunder, including, without limitation, the transfer to the Indenture
Trustee or the successor HELOC Master Servicer for administration by it of (i)
the property and amounts which are then or should be part of the Trust Estate or
which thereafter become part of the Trust Estate; (ii) originals or copies of
all documents of the HELOC Master Servicer reasonably requested by the Indenture
Trustee to enable it to assume the HELOC Master Servicer's duties thereunder and
under the Subservicing Agreements; (iii) the rights and obligations of the HELOC
Master Servicer under the Subservicing Agreements with respect to the HELOC
Mortgage Loans; (iv) all cash amounts which shall at the time be deposited by
the HELOC Master Servicer or should have been deposited to the Collection
Account, the related Servicing Accounts or the Payment Account or thereafter be
received with respect to the HELOC Mortgage Loans; and (v) all costs or expenses
associated with the complete transfer of all servicing data and the completion,
correction or manipulation of such servicing data as may be required by the
Indenture Trustee or any successor HELOC Master Servicer to correct any errors
or insufficiencies in the servicing data or otherwise to enable the Indenture
Trustee or successor HELOC Master Servicer to service the HELOC Mortgage Loans
properly and effectively. All reasonable costs and expenses (including, but not
limited to, attorneys' fees and disbursements) incurred by the Indenture Trustee
or a successor HELOC Master Servicer in connection with its succession as HELOC
Master Servicer, including amending this Servicing Agreement to reflect such
succession as HELOC Master Servicer pursuant to this Section 6.01 shall be paid
by the predecessor HELOC Master Servicer (or if the predecessor HELOC Master
Servicer is the Indenture Trustee, the initial HELOC Master
32
Servicer) upon presentation of reasonable documentation of such costs and
expenses, and if not so paid by the predecessor HELOC Master Servicer, shall be
reimbursed by the Issuer pursuant to Section 6.07 of the Indenture.
Notwithstanding any termination of the activities of the HELOC Master
Servicer hereunder, the HELOC Master Servicer shall be entitled to receive, out
of any late collection of a payment on a HELOC Mortgage Loan which was due prior
to the notice terminating the HELOC Master Servicer's rights and obligations
hereunder and received after such notice, that portion to which the HELOC Master
Servicer would have been entitled pursuant to Sections 3.07 and 3.15 as well as
its HELOC Master Servicing Fee in respect thereof, and any other amounts payable
to the HELOC Master Servicer hereunder the entitlement to which arose prior to
the termination of its activities hereunder.
The HELOC Master Servicer shall immediately notify the Indenture
Trustee and the Owner Trustee in writing of any Servicing Default.
In addition, upon the occurrence of any Servicer Termination Event and
upon the direction of the Insurer in connection therewith, the Indenture Trustee
shall instruct the HELOC Master Servicer to terminate the rights and
responsibilities of any Subservicer hereunder.
Section 6.02 INDENTURE TRUSTEE TO ACT; APPOINTMENT OF SUCCESSOR. (a)
Within 90 days of the time the HELOC Master Servicer sends a notice pursuant to
clause (i) of Section 5.04, the Indenture Trustee on behalf of the Class VII-A
Noteholders, or other successor appointed in accordance with this Section 6.02,
shall be the successor in all respects to the HELOC Master Servicer in its
capacity as HELOC Master Servicer under this Servicing Agreement and the
transactions set forth or provided for herein and shall be subject to all the
responsibilities, duties and liabilities relating thereto placed on the HELOC
Master Servicer by the terms and provisions hereof, including but not limited to
the provisions of Article V. Nothing in this Servicing Agreement shall be
construed to permit or require the Indenture Trustee or any other successor
HELOC Master Servicer to (i) be responsible or accountable for any act or
omission of the predecessor HELOC Master Servicer, (ii) require or obligate the
Indenture Trustee, in its capacity as successor HELOC Master Servicer, to
purchase, repurchase or substitute any HELOC Mortgage Loan, (iii) fund any
losses on any Eligible Investment directed by any other HELOC Master Servicer,
or (iv) be responsible for the representations and warranties of the HELOC
Master Servicer, except as provided herein. As compensation therefor, the
Indenture Trustee shall be entitled to such compensation as the HELOC Master
Servicer would have been entitled to hereunder if no such notice of termination
had been given. Notwithstanding the above, (i) if the Indenture Trustee is
unwilling to act as successor HELOC Master Servicer, or (ii) if the Indenture
Trustee is legally unable so to act, the Indenture Trustee on behalf of the
Class VII-A Noteholders may (in the situation described in clause (i)) or shall
(in the situation described in clause (ii)) appoint or petition a court of
competent jurisdiction to appoint any established housing and home finance
institution, bank or other mortgage loan servicer having a net worth of not less
than $10,000,000 as the successor to the HELOC Master Servicer hereunder in the
assumption of all or any part of the responsibilities, duties or liabilities of
the HELOC Master Servicer hereunder; provided that the appointment of any such
successor HELOC Master Servicer will not result in the qualification, reduction
or withdrawal of the ratings assigned to the Class VII-A Notes by the Rating
Agencies (as evidenced by a letter to such effect
33
delivered by the Rating Agencies). Pending appointment of a successor to the
HELOC Master Servicer hereunder, unless the Indenture Trustee is prohibited by
law from so acting or is unwilling to act as such, the Indenture Trustee shall
act in such capacity as hereinabove provided. In connection with such
appointment and assumption, the successor shall be entitled to receive
compensation out of payments on HELOC Mortgage Loans in an amount equal to the
compensation which the HELOC Master Servicer would otherwise have received
pursuant to Section 3.15 (or such lesser compensation as the Indenture Trustee
and such successor shall agree). The appointment of a successor HELOC Master
Servicer shall not affect any liability of the predecessor HELOC Master Servicer
which may have arisen under this Servicing Agreement prior to its termination as
HELOC Master Servicer (including, without limitation, the obligation to pay any
deductible under an insurance policy pursuant to Section 3.11 or to indemnify
the Indenture Trustee pursuant to Section 5.06), nor shall any successor HELOC
Master Servicer be liable for any acts or omissions of the predecessor HELOC
Master Servicer or for any breach by such HELOC Master Servicer of any of its
representations or warranties contained herein or in any related document or
agreement. The Indenture Trustee, the Custodian and such successor shall take
such action, consistent with this Servicing Agreement, as shall be necessary to
effectuate any such succession.
In connection with the termination or resignation of the HELOC Master
Servicer hereunder, either (i) the successor HELOC Master Servicer, including
the Indenture Trustee if the Indenture Trustee is acting as successor HELOC
Master Servicer, shall represent and warrant that it is a member of MERS in good
standing and shall agree to comply in all material respects with the rules and
procedures of MERS in connection with the servicing of the HELOC Mortgage Loans
that are registered with MERS, in which case the predecessor HELOC Master
Servicer shall cooperate with the successor HELOC Master Servicer in causing
MERS to revise its records to reflect the transfer of servicing to the successor
HELOC Master Servicer as necessary under MERS' rules and regulations, or (ii)
the predecessor HELOC Master Servicer shall cooperate with the successor HELOC
Master Servicer in causing MERS to execute and deliver an assignment of Mortgage
in recordable form to transfer the Mortgage from MERS to the Indenture Trustee
and to execute and deliver such other notices, documents and other instruments
as may be necessary or desirable to effect a transfer of such HELOC Mortgage
Loan or servicing of such HELOC Mortgage Loan on the MERS(R) System to the
successor HELOC Master Servicer. The predecessor HELOC Master Servicer shall
file or cause to be filed any such assignment in the appropriate recording
office. The predecessor HELOC Master Servicer shall bear any and all fees of
MERS, costs of preparing any assignments of Mortgage, and fees and costs of
filing any assignments of Mortgage that may be required under this Section 6.02.
To the extent these fees and costs are not paid by the HELOC Master Servicer and
are incurred by any successor HELOC Master Servicer, such fees and costs will be
reimbursable to the successor HELOC Master Servicer by the Trust. The successor
HELOC Master Servicer shall cause such assignment to be delivered to the
Indenture Trustee promptly upon receipt of the original with evidence of
recording thereon or a copy certified by the public recording office in which
such assignment was recorded.
(b) Any successor, including the Indenture Trustee on behalf of
the Class VII-A Noteholders, to the HELOC Master Servicer as servicer shall
during the term of its service as servicer (i) continue to service and
administer the HELOC Mortgage Loans for the benefit of the Securityholders, (ii)
maintain in force a policy or policies of insurance covering errors and
omissions in the performance of its obligations as HELOC Master Servicer
hereunder and a fidelity bond in
34
respect of its officers, employees and agents to the same extent as the HELOC
Master Servicer is so required pursuant to Section 3.11(g).
(c) Any successor HELOC Master Servicer, including the Indenture
Trustee on behalf of the Class VII-A Noteholders, shall not be deemed to be in
default or to have breached its duties hereunder if the predecessor HELOC Master
Servicer shall fail to deliver any required deposit to the Collection Account or
a Servicing Account or otherwise cooperate with any required servicing transfer
or succession hereunder.
(d) Notwithstanding anything else herein to the contrary, in no
event shall the Indenture Trustee be liable for any servicing fee or any
differential in the amount of the servicing fee paid hereunder and the amount
necessary to induce any successor HELOC Master Servicer to act as a successor
HELOC Master Servicer under this Servicing Agreement and the transactions set
forth or provided for herein.
Section 6.03 NOTIFICATION TO CLASS VII-A NOTEHOLDERS. Upon any
termination or appointment of a successor to the HELOC Master Servicer pursuant
to this Article VI or Section 5.04, the Indenture Trustee shall give prompt
written notice thereof to the Class VII-A Noteholders, the Owner Trustee, the
Company, the Issuer and the Rating Agencies.
Section 6.04 WAIVER OF DEFAULTS. The Indenture Trustee shall transmit
by mail to all Class VII-A Noteholders, within 10 days after the occurrence of
any Servicing Default known to the Indenture Trustee, unless such Servicing
Default shall have been cured, notice of each such Servicing Default hereunder
known to a Responsible Officer of the Indenture Trustee. The holders of at least
51% of the aggregate Note Principal Balance of the Class VII-A Notes may waive
any default by the HELOC Master Servicer in the performance of its obligations
hereunder and the consequences thereof, except a default in the making of or the
causing to be made any required distribution on the Class VII-A Notes. Upon any
such waiver of a past default, such default shall be deemed to cease to exist,
and any Servicing Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been timely
remedied for every purpose of this Servicing Agreement. No such waiver shall
extend to any subsequent or other default or impair any right consequent thereon
except to the extent expressly so waived. The HELOC Master Servicer shall give
notice of any such waiver to the Rating Agencies.
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ARTICLE VII
Miscellaneous Provisions
Section 7.01 AMENDMENT. This Servicing Agreement may be amended from
time to time by the parties hereto, provided that any amendment be accompanied
by a letter from the Rating Agencies that the amendment will not result in the
downgrading, qualification or withdrawal of the rating then assigned to the
Class VII-A Notes and the consent of the Indenture Trustee.
Section 7.02 GOVERNING LAW. THIS SERVICING AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REFERENCE TO ITS
CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISIONS, AND THE OBLIGATIONS, RIGHTS AND REMEDIES OF THE
PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE DETERMINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUCH LAWS.
Section 7.03 NOTICES. All demands, notices and communications hereunder
shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if when
delivered to:
(a) in the case of the HELOC Master Servicer:
GMAC Mortgage Corporation
000 Xxxxxx Xx.
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: General Counsel
Telecopier No.: 215.682.1467
(b) in the case of Rating Agencies:
Standard & Poor's, a division
of The XxXxxx-Xxxx Companies, Inc.
00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx - 41st Floor
New York, New York 10041
Attention: Asset Backed Surveillance
Group
Xxxxx'x Investors Service, Inc.
00 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention:
(c) in the case of the Owner Trustee, the Corporate Trust Office:
Wilmington Trust Company
Xxxxxx Square North
0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Corporate Trust
Administration
(d) in the case of the Issuer, to American Home Mortgage
Investment Trust 2004-4:
c/o American Home Mortgage Securities
LLC
36
000 Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: General Counsel
(e) in the case of the Indenture Trustee:
its Corporate Trust Office
(f) in the case of the Insurer,
MBIA Insurance Corporation
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Insured Portfolio Management-
Structured Finance (IPM-SF)
(American Home Mortgage Investment Trust
2004-4)
or, as to each party, at such other address as shall be designated by such party
in a written notice to each other party. Any notice required or permitted to be
mailed to a Noteholder shall be given by first class mail, postage prepaid, at
the address of such Noteholder as shown in the Note Register. Any notice so
mailed within the time prescribed in this Servicing Agreement shall be
conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the Noteholder
receives such notice. Any notice or other document required to be delivered or
mailed by the Indenture Trustee to the Rating Agencies shall be given on a
reasonable efforts basis and only as a matter of courtesy and accommodation and
the Indenture Trustee shall have no liability for failure to deliver such notice
or document to the Rating Agencies.
The HELOC Master Servicer shall designate a Person who shall be
available to the Insurer to provide reasonable access to information regarding
the HELOC Mortgage Loans.
Section 7.04 SEVERABILITY OF PROVISIONS. If any one or more of the
covenants, agreements, provisions or terms of this Servicing Agreement shall be
for any reason whatsoever held invalid, then such covenants, agreements,
provisions or terms shall be deemed severable from the remaining covenants,
agreements, provisions or terms of this Servicing Agreement and shall in no way
affect the validity or enforceability of the other provisions of this Servicing
Agreement or of the Class VII- A Notes or the rights of the Class VII-A
Noteholders thereof.
Section 7.05 THIRD-PARTY BENEFICIARIES. This Servicing Agreement will
inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto, the Class VII-A
Noteholders, the Issuer, the Insurer, the Owner Trustee, the Depositor and its
any of its officers and directors, the Indenture Trustee and their respective
successors and permitted assigns. Except as otherwise provided in this Servicing
Agreement, no other Person will have any right or obligation hereunder. The
Indenture Trustee shall have the right to exercise all rights of the Issuer
under this Agreement. The Depositor and its officers and directors (in their
corporate or individual capacity) shall have the right to bring an action
against any party hereto as it relates to a failure of such party to comply with
its obligations under Section 4.06 of this Servicing Agreement.
37
Section 7.06 COUNTERPARTS. This instrument may be executed in any
number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an
original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the
same instrument.
Section 7.07 EFFECT OF HEADINGS AND TABLE OF CONTENTS. The Article and
Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and
shall not affect the construction hereof.
Section 7.08 TERMINATION. The respective obligations and
responsibilities of the HELOC Master Servicer and the Issuer created hereby
shall terminate upon the satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture pursuant to
Section 4.10 thereof.
Section 7.09 NO PETITION. The HELOC Master Servicer, by entering into
this Servicing Agreement, hereby covenants and agrees that it will not at any
time institute against the Issuer, or join in any institution against the
Issuer, any bankruptcy proceedings under any United States federal or state
bankruptcy or similar law in connection with any obligations of the Issuer. This
section shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture by one
year.
Section 7.10 NO RECOURSE. The HELOC Master Servicer acknowledges that
no recourse may be had against the Issuer, except as may be expressly set forth
in this Servicing Agreement.
Section 7.11 The parties to this Servicing Agreement each hereby
irrevocably submits to the non exclusive jurisdiction of any New York State or
federal court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York in any
action or proceeding arising out of or relating to the Class VII-A Notes, this
Indenture or the transactions contemplated hereby, and all such parties hereby
irrevocably agree that all claims in respect of such action or proceeding may be
heard and determined in such New York State or federal court and hereby
irrevocably waive, to the fullest extent that they may legally do so, the
defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or
proceeding. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST
EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY
ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS SERVICING AGREEMENT, THE
CLASS VII-A NOTES OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
38
39
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the HELOC Master Servicer, the Issuer and the
Indenture Trustee have caused this Servicing Agreement to be duly executed by
their respective officers or representatives all as of the day and year first
above written.
GMAC MORTGAGE CORPORATION
as HELOC Master Servicer
By:__________________________________
Name:
Title:
AMERICAN HOME MORTGAGE INVESTMENT
TRUST 2004-4,
as Issuer
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, not in its
individual capacity,
but solely as Owner Trustee
By:__________________________________
Name:
Title:
THE BANK OF NEW YORK, not in its
individual capacity,
but solely as Indenture Trustee
By:__________________________________
Name:
Title:
AMERICAN HOME MORTGAGE ACCEPTANCE,
INC., as Seller
By:__________________________________
Name:
Title:
Acknowledged and agreed with respect
to Section 5.03 hereof:
AMERICAN HOME MORTGAGE
SECURITIES LLC,
as Depositor
By:__________________________________
Name:
Title:
EXHIBIT A
HELOC MORTGAGE LOAN SCHEDULE
(Filed Manually)
A-1
EXHIBIT B
FORM OF REQUEST FOR RELEASE
DATE:
TO:
RE: REQUEST FOR RELEASE OF DOCUMENTS
In connection with your administration of the HELOC Mortgage Loans, we request
the release of the Mortgage File described below.
Servicing Agreement ("Servicing Agreement") Dated:
Series #:
Account #:
Pool #:
Loan #:
Borrower Name(s):
Reason for Document Request: (circle one) Mortgage Loan Prepaid in Full
Other
Mortgage Loan Repurchased
Please deliver the Mortgage File to_____________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
"We hereby certify that all amounts received or to be received in connection
with such payments which are required to be deposited have been deposited in the
Payment Account as provided in the Servicing Agreement."
___________________
[Name of HELOC Master Servicer]
Authorized Signature
******************************************************************************
TO CUSTODIAN: Please acknowledge this request, and check off documents being
enclosed with a copy of this form. You should retain this form for your files in
accordance with the terms of the Servicing Agreement.
Enclosed Documents: [ ] Promissory Note
[ ] Mortgage or Deed of Trust
[ ] Assignment(s) of Mortgage
or Deed of Trust
[ ] Title Insurance Policy
_______________________ [ ] Other:
Name
_______________________
Title
_______________________
Date
B-1
EXHIBIT C-1
FORM OF CERTIFICATION TO BE PROVIDED BY THE HELOC MASTER SERVICER
WITH FORM 10-K
Re: American Home Mortgage Investment Trust 2004-4
Mortgage-Backed Notes, Series 2004-4
I, [identify the certifying individual], certify that:
l. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K, and
all reports on Form 8-K containing distribution or servicing reports filed in
respect of periods included in the year covered by this annual report, of
American Home Mortgage Securities LLC (the "Registrant");
2. Based on my knowledge, the information in these
reports, taken as a whole, does not contain any untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in
light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading
as of the last day of the period covered by this annual report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the servicing information
required to be provided to the Trustee by the HELOC Master Servicer under the
Servicing Agreement is included in these reports;
4. I am responsible for reviewing the activities
performed by the HELOC Master Servicer under the Servicing Agreement and based
upon the review required under the Servicing Agreement, and except as disclosed
in the report, the HELOC Master Servicer has fulfilled its obligations under the
Servicing Agreement; and
5. I have disclosed to the Registrant's certified public
accountants all significant deficiencies relating to the HELOC Master Servicer's
compliance with the minimum servicing standards in accordance with a review
conducted in compliance with the Uniform Single Attestation Program for Mortgage
Bankers or similar standard as set forth in the Servicing Agreement.
Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the
meanings ascribed to them in Appendix A to the Indenture, dated as of December
21, 2004, between American Home Mortgage Investment Trust 2004-4, as issuer, and
The Bank of New York, as indenture trustee.
GMAC MORTGAGE CORPORATION
By:________________________
Name:
Title:
Date:
C-1-1
EXHIBIT C-2
FORM OF CERTIFICATION TO BE
PROVIDED TO HELOC MASTER SERVICER BY THE INDENTURE TRUSTEE
Re: American Home Mortgage Investment Trust 2004-4 (the
"Trust" or the "Issuer") Mortgage-Backed Notes,
Series 2004-4
The Bank of New York, as Indenture Trustee under the
Indenture, dated December 21, 2004, between American Home Mortgage Investment
Trust 2004-4, as issuer, and The Bank of New York, as indenture trustee (the
"Indenture"), hereby certifies to [GMAC Mortgage Corporation (the "HELOC Master
Servicer")][American Home Mortgage Securities LLC] and its officers, directors
and affiliates, and with the knowledge and intent that they will rely upon this
certification in connection with the certification that the Depositor is
required to file on behalf of the Trust pursuant to Section 302 of the
Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002, that:
1. An officer in the corporate trust department of The
Bank of New York who has responsibility for administration of the Indenture has
reviewed the annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year [___], and all
reports on Form 8-K containing distribution reports filed in respect of periods
included in the year covered by that annual report, of the Issuer relating to
the above-referenced trust;
2. Assuming the accuracy and completeness of the
information delivered to The Bank of New York by the HELOC Master Servicer as
provided in the Servicing Agreement dated as of December 21, 2004, with respect
to the Trust, and subject to paragraph 4 below, the information in these
distribution reports prepared by the Indenture Trustee, taken as a whole, does
not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under
which such statements were made, not misleading as of the last day of the period
covered by that annual report; and
3. Based solely on the information delivered to The Bank
of New York by the HELOC Master Servicer as provided in the Servicing Agreement,
the distribution information required to be provided by the Indenture Trustee
under the Indenture is included in these distribution reports.
4. The Bank of New York is not certifying as to the
accuracy, completeness or correctness of the information which it received from
the HELOC Master Servicer and did not independently verify or confirm the
accuracy, completeness or correctness of the information provided by the HELOC
Master Servicer.
THE BANK OF NEW YORK,
as Indenture Trustee
By:_______________________________
Name:
Title:
Date:
C-2-1
D-2
================================================================================
GMAC MORTGAGE CORPORATION,
as HELOC Master Servicer,
and
AMERICAN HOME MORTGAGE SERVICING, INC.
as HELOC Subservicer
------------------------------------
HELOC SUBSERVICING AGREEMENT
Dated as of December 21, 2004
------------------------------------
HELOC Mortgage Loans
American Home Mortgage Investment Trust 2004-4
================================================================================
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
----
ARTICLE I
Definitions..........................................................................................2
Section 1.01 DEFINITIONS.......................................................................2
Section 1.02 OTHER DEFINITIONAL PROVISIONS.....................................................2
Section 1.03 INTEREST CALCULATIONS.............................................................2
ARTICLE II
................................................................................................4
Section 2.01 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES REGARDING THE HELOC SUBSERVICER....................4
Section 2.02 RESERVED..........................................................................5
Section 2.03 RESERVED..........................................................................5
ARTICLE III
Administration and Servicing of HELOC Mortgage Loans.................................................7
Section 3.01 HELOC SUBSERVICER TO ASSURE SERVICING.............................................7
Section 3.02 SUBSERVICING AGREEMENTS BETWEEN HELOC SUBSERVICER AND
SUBSERVICERS.....................................................................10
Section 3.03 SUCCESSOR SUBSERVICERS...........................................................10
Section 3.04 LIABILITY OF THE HELOC SUBSERVICER...............................................11
Section 3.05 ASSUMPTION OR TERMINATION OF SUBSERVICING AGREEMENTS BY HELOC
MASTER SERVICER..................................................................11
Section 3.06 COLLECTION OF MORTGAGE LOAN PAYMENTS.............................................12
Section 3.07 WITHDRAWALS FROM THE COLLECTION ACCOUNT..........................................14
Section 3.08 COLLECTION OF TAXES ASSESSMENTS AND SIMILAR ITEMS;
SERVICING ACCOUNTS...............................................................16
Section 3.09 ACCESS TO CERTAIN DOCUMENTATION AND INFORMATION
REGARDING THE HELOC MORTGAGE LOANS...............................................17
Section 3.10 RESERVED.........................................................................17
Section 3.11 MAINTENANCE OF HAZARD INSURANCE AND FIDELITY COVERAGE............................18
Section 3.12 DUE-ON-SALE CLAUSES; ASSUMPTION AGREEMENTS.......................................20
Section 3.13 REALIZATION UPON DEFAULTED HELOC MORTGAGE LOANS..................................20
Section 3.14 HELOC MASTER SERVICER TO COOPERATE; RELEASE OF MORTGAGE FILES....................22
Section 3.15 SUBSERVICING COMPENSATION........................................................23
Section 3.16 ANNUAL STATEMENTS OF COMPLIANCE..................................................23
Section 3.17 ANNUAL INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS' SERVICING REPORT..........................24
Section 3.18 RESERVED.........................................................................24
Section 3.19 INFORMATION REQUIRED BY THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE
GENERALLY AND REPORTS OF FORECLOSURES AND
ABANDONMENTS OF MORTGAGED PROPERTY...............................................25
i
ARTICLE IV
Servicing Certificate...............................................................................26
Section 4.01 REMITTANCE REPORTS...............................................................26
Section 4.02 RESERVED.........................................................................26
Section 4.03 RESERVED.........................................................................26
Section 4.04 RESERVED.........................................................................26
Section 4.05 RESERVED.........................................................................27
Section 4.06 ANNUAL CERTIFICATION.............................................................27
ARTICLE V
The HELOC Master Servicer...........................................................................30
Section 5.01 LIABILITY OF THE HELOC SUBSERVICER...............................................30
Section 5.02 MERGER OR CONSOLIDATION OF OR ASSUMPTION OF THE
OBLIGATIONS OF THE HELOC SUBSERVICER.............................................30
Section 5.03 LIMITATION ON LIABILITY OF THE HELOC SUBSERVICER AND OTHERS......................30
Section 5.04 HELOC SUBSERVICER NOT TO RESIGN..................................................31
Section 5.05 DELEGATION OF DUTIES.............................................................31
Section 5.06 INDEMNIFICATION..................................................................32
ARTICLE VI
Default.............................................................................................35
Section 6.01 SERVICING DEFAULT................................................................35
Section 6.02 HELOC MASTER SERVICER TO ACT; APPOINTMENT OF SUCCESSOR............................37
Section 6.03 RESERVED..........................................................................39
Section 6.04 WAIVER OF DEFAULTS...............................................................39
ARTICLE VII
Miscellaneous Provisions............................................................................40
Section 7.01 AMENDMENT........................................................................40
Section 7.02 GOVERNING LAW....................................................................40
Section 7.03 NOTICES..........................................................................40
Section 7.04 SEVERABILITY OF PROVISIONS.......................................................41
Section 7.05 THIRD-PARTY BENEFICIARIES........................................................41
Section 7.06 COUNTERPARTS.....................................................................41
Section 7.07 EFFECT OF HEADINGS AND TABLE OF CONTENTS.........................................41
Section 7.08 TERMINATION......................................................................42
Section 7.09 NO PETITION......................................................................42
Section 7.10 NO RECOURSE......................................................................42
EXHIBIT A - HELOC MORTGAGE LOAN SCHEDULE....................................................A-1
ii
EXHIBIT B - FORM OF REQUEST FOR RELEASE.....................................................B-1
EXHIBIT C-1 - FORM OF CERTIFICATION TO BE PROVIDED BY
THE HELOC SUBSERVICER...........................................................C-1
EXHIBIT C-2 - RESERVED........................................................................C-2
iii
This HELOC Subservicing Agreement, dated as of December 21,
2004, between GMAC Mortgage Corporation, as HELOC Master Servicer (the "HELOC
Master Servicer" ) and American Home Mortgage Servicing, Inc., as HELOC
Subservicer (the "HELOC Subservicer").
W I T N E S S E T H T H A T :
-----------------------------
WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of the Mortgage Loan Purchase
Agreement and the related Group I, Group II, Group III, Group IV, Group V, Group
VI and Group VII Subsequent Mortgage Loan Purchase Agreement, American Home
Mortgage Securities LLC (the "Company" or the "Depositor") will acquire the
Mortgage Loans and the related Group I, Group 2, Group III, Group IV, Group V,
Group VI and Group VII Subsequent Mortgage Loans;
WHEREAS, the Company will create American Home Mortgage
Investment Trust 2004-4, a Delaware statutory trust, and will transfer the
Mortgage Loans and the related Subsequent Mortgage Loans and all of its rights
under the Mortgage Loan Purchase Agreement and the related Group I, Group II,
Group III, Group IV, Group V, Group VI and Group VII Subsequent Mortgage Loan
Purchase Agreement to the Issuer;
WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of an Amended and Restated
Trust Agreement dated as of December 21, 2004 (the "Trust Agreement") among the
Company, as depositor, Wilmington Trust Company, as owner trustee (the "Owner
Trustee") and The Bank of New York, as certificate registrar and certificate
paying agent, the Company will convey the Mortgage Loans to the Issuer in
exchange for the Certificates (as defined below);
WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of the Trust Agreement, the
Issuer will issue and transfer to or at the direction of the Depositor, the
Trust Certificates, 2004-4 (the "Certificates");
WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of an Indenture dated as of
December 21, 2004 (the "Indenture") between the Issuer and The Bank of New York
(the "Indenture Trustee"), the Issuer will pledge the Mortgage Loans and issue
and transfer to or at the direction of the Purchaser the Mortgage-Backed Notes,
Series 2004-4, Class I-A-1, Class I-A-2, Class II-A-1, Class II-A-2, Class
III-A, Class IV-A, Class V-A, Class VI-A-1, Class VI-A-2, Class VII-A, Class
M-1, Class M-2, Class M-3, Class VI-M-1, Class VI-M-2, Class XX-X-0, Xxxxx
XX-X-0, XX-X-0, XX-X-0, Class VII-A and Class N Notes; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of the HELOC Servicing
Agreement, the HELOC Master Servicer will master service the HELOC Mortgage
Loans set forth on the HELOC Mortgage Loan Schedule through one or more
Subservicers for the benefit of the holders of the Class VII-A Notes;
WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of this HELOC Subservicing
Agreement, the HELOC Subservicer shall subservice the HELOC Mortgage Loans for
the benefit of the HELOC Master Servicer and the holders of the Class VII-A
Notes;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants
herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
Definitions
Section 1.01 DEFINITIONS. For all purposes of this HELOC Subservicing
Agreement, except as otherwise expressly provided herein or unless the context
otherwise requires, capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have
the meanings assigned to such terms in the Definitions contained in Appendix A
to the Indenture which is incorporated by reference herein. All other
capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings specified herein.
Section 1.02 OTHER DEFINITIONAL PROVISIONS.
(a) All terms defined in this HELOC Subservicing Agreement shall
have the defined meanings when used in any certificate or other document made or
delivered pursuant hereto unless otherwise defined therein.
(b) As used in this HELOC Subservicing Agreement and in any
certificate or other document made or delivered pursuant hereto or thereto,
accounting terms not defined in this HELOC Subservicing Agreement or in any such
certificate or other document, and accounting terms partly defined in this HELOC
Subservicing Agreement or in any such certificate or other document, to the
extent not defined, shall have the respective meanings given to them under
generally accepted accounting principles. To the extent that the definitions of
accounting terms in this HELOC Subservicing Agreement or in any such certificate
or other document are inconsistent with the meanings of such terms under
generally accepted accounting principles, the definitions contained in this
HELOC Subservicing Agreement or in any such certificate or other document shall
control.
(c) The words "hereof," "herein," "hereunder" and words of similar
import when used in this HELOC Subservicing Agreement shall refer to this HELOC
Subservicing Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this
HELOC Subservicing Agreement; Section and Exhibit references contained in this
HELOC Subservicing Agreement are references to Sections and Exhibits in or to
this HELOC Subservicing Agreement unless otherwise specified; and the term
"including" shall mean "including without limitation".
(d) The definitions contained in this HELOC Subservicing Agreement
are applicable to the singular as well as the plural forms of such terms and to
the masculine as well as the feminine and neuter genders of such terms.
(e) Any agreement, instrument or statute defined or referred to
herein or in any instrument or certificate delivered in connection herewith
means such agreement, instrument or statute as from time to time amended,
modified or supplemented and includes (in the case of agreements or instruments)
references to all attachments thereto and instruments incorporated therein;
references to a Person are also to its permitted successors and assigns.
Section 1.03 INTEREST CALCULATIONS. All calculations of interest
hereunder that are made in respect of the Stated Principal Balance of a HELOC
Mortgage Loan shall be made on the basis of a 365/366 day year and the actual
number of days elapsed.
2
ARTICLE II
Representations and Warranties
Section 2.01 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES REGARDING THE HELOC
SUBSERVICER. The HELOC Subservicer represents and warrants to the HELOC Master
Servicer, that:
(i) The HELOC Subservicer is a corporation duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the
State of Maryland and has the corporate power to own its assets and to
transact the business in which it is currently engaged. The HELOC
Subservicer is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing in
each jurisdiction in which the character of the business transacted by
it or properties owned or leased by it requires such qualification and
in which the failure to so qualify would have a material adverse effect
on the business, properties, assets, or condition (financial or other)
of the HELOC Subservicer or the validity or enforceability of the HELOC
Mortgage Loans;
(ii) The HELOC Subservicer has the power and authority to
make, execute, deliver and perform this HELOC Subservicing Agreement
and all of the transactions contemplated under this HELOC Subservicing
Agreement, and has taken all necessary corporate action to authorize
the execution, delivery and performance of this HELOC Subservicing
Agreement. When executed and delivered, this HELOC Subservicing
Agreement will constitute the legal, valid and binding obligation of
the HELOC Subservicer enforceable in accordance with its terms, except
as enforcement of such terms may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency
or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights
generally and by the availability of equitable remedies;
(iii) The HELOC Subservicer is not required to obtain the
consent of any other Person or any consent, license, approval or
authorization from, or registration or declaration with, any
governmental authority, bureau or agency in connection with the
execution, delivery, performance, validity or enforceability of this
HELOC Subservicing Agreement, except for such consent, license,
approval or authorization, or registration or declaration, as shall
have been obtained or filed, as the case may be;
(iv) The execution and delivery of this HELOC Subservicing
Agreement and the performance of the transactions contemplated hereby
by the HELOC Subservicer will not violate any provision of any existing
law or regulation or any order or decree of any court applicable to the
HELOC Subservicer or any provision of the certificate of incorporation
or bylaws of the HELOC Subservicer, or constitute a material breach of
any mortgage, indenture, contract or other agreement to which the HELOC
Subservicer is a party or by which the HELOC Subservicer may be bound;
(v) No litigation or administrative proceeding of or
before any court, tribunal or governmental body is currently pending
(other than litigation with respect to which pleadings or documents
have been filed with a court, but not served on the HELOC Subservicer),
or to the knowledge of the HELOC Subservicer threatened, against the
HELOC Subservicer or any of its properties or with respect to this
HELOC Subservicing Agreement or the Class
3
VII-A Notes or the Certificates which, to the knowledge of the HELOC
Subservicer, has a reasonable likelihood of resulting in a material
adverse effect on the transactions contemplated by this HELOC
Subservicing Agreement; and
(vi) The HELOC Subservicer is a member of MERS in good
standing, and will comply in all material respects with the rules and
procedures of MERS in connection with the servicing of the HELOC
Mortgage Loans that are registered with MERS.
The foregoing representations and warranties shall survive any
termination of the HELOC Subservicer hereunder.
Section 2.02 RESERVED.
Section 2.03 RESERVED.
4
ARTICLE III
Administration and Servicing of HELOC Mortgage Loans
Section 3.01 HELOC SUBSERVICER TO ASSURE SERVICING. (a) The HELOC
Subservicer shall supervise, or take such actions as are necessary to ensure,
the servicing and administration of the HELOC Mortgage Loans and any REO
Property in accordance with this HELOC Subservicing Agreement and its normal
servicing practices, which generally shall conform to the standards of an
institution prudently servicing home equity line of credit mortgage loans for
its own account and shall have full authority to do anything it reasonably deems
appropriate or desirable in connection with such servicing and administration.
The HELOC Subservicer may perform its responsibilities relating to servicing
through other agents or independent contractors, but shall not thereby be
released from any of its responsibilities for the servicing and administration
of the HELOC Mortgage Loans. The authority of the HELOC Subservicer, in its
capacity as HELOC subservicer, and any Subservicer acting on its behalf, shall
include, without limitation, the power on behalf of the HELOC Master Servicer to
(i) consult with and advise any Subservicer regarding administration of a
related HELOC Mortgage Loan, (ii) approve any recommendation by a Subservicer to
foreclose on a related HELOC Mortgage Loan, (iii) supervise the filing and
collection of insurance claims and take or cause to be taken such actions on
behalf of the insured Person thereunder as shall be reasonably necessary to
prevent the denial of coverage thereunder, and (iv) effectuate foreclosure or
other conversion of the ownership of the Mortgaged Property securing a related
HELOC Mortgage Loan, including the employment of attorneys, the institution of
legal proceedings, the collection of deficiency judgments, the acceptance of
compromise proposals and any other matter pertaining to a delinquent HELOC
Mortgage Loan. The authority of the HELOC Subservicer shall include, in
addition, the power to (i) execute and deliver customary consents or waivers and
other instruments and documents, (ii) consent to transfer of any related
Mortgaged Property and assumptions of the related Mortgage Notes (in the manner
provided in this HELOC Subservicing Agreement) and (iii) collect any Insurance
Proceeds and Liquidation Proceeds. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, the HELOC Subservicer and any Subservicer acting on its behalf may,
and is hereby authorized, and empowered by the HELOC Master Servicer, to execute
and deliver any instruments of satisfaction, cancellation, partial or full
release, discharge and all other comparable instruments, with respect to the
related HELOC Mortgage Loans, the insurance policies and the accounts related
thereto, and the Mortgaged Properties. The HELOC Subservicer may exercise this
power in its own name or in the name of a Subservicer.
Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything else to the contrary in this
HELOC Subservicing Agreement, for so long as a Servicing Default or Servicer
Termination Event is not in effect as provided in Section 6.01 herein, the
responsibilities of the HELOC Master Servicer shall be limited to review of the
reports provided by the HELOC Subservicer in connection with the creation of the
Remittance Reports required of the HELOC Subservicer pursuant to Section 4.01 of
this Servicing Agreement.
In accordance with the standards of the preceding paragraph, the HELOC
Subservicer shall advance or cause to be advanced funds as necessary for the
purpose of effecting the payment of taxes and assessments on the Mortgaged
Properties, which advances shall be reimbursable in the first
5
instance from related collections from the Mortgagors pursuant to Section 3.08,
and further as provided in Section 3.07; provided that the HELOC Subservicer
shall not be obligated to make such advance if, in its good faith judgment, the
HELOC Subservicer determines that such advance will be a Nonrecoverable Advance.
The relationship of the HELOC Subservicer (and of any successor to the
HELOC Subservicer under this Agreement) to the HELOC Master Servicer under this
Agreement is intended by the parties to be that of an independent contractor and
not that of a joint venturer, partner or agent; provided, however, that the
HELOC Subservicer is authorized and empowered by the HELOC Master Servicer, in
its own name or in the name of any Subservicer, when the HELOC Subservicer or
such Subservicer, as the case may be, believes it is appropriate in its best
judgment to register any HELOC Mortgage Loan on the MERS(R) System, or cause the
removal from the registration of any HELOC Mortgage Loan on the MERS(R) System,
to execute and deliver, on behalf of the HELOC Master Servicer, any and all
instruments of assignment and other comparable instruments with respect to such
assignment or re-recording of a Mortgage in the name of MERS, solely as nominee
for the HELOC Master Servicer and its successors and assigns. Any expenses
incurred in connection with the actions described in the preceding sentence
shall be borne by the HELOC Subservicer in accordance with Section 3.15, with no
right of reimbursement; provided, that if, as a result of MERS discontinuing or
becoming unable to continue operations in connection with the MERS System, it
becomes necessary to remove any HELOC Mortgage Loan from registration on the
MERS System and to arrange for the assignment of the related Mortgages to the
Indenture Trustee, then any related expenses shall be reimbursable to the HELOC
Subservicer from the Trust Estate.
(b) With respect to each HELOC Mortgage Loan, consistent with the
terms of this HELOC Subservicing Agreement, the HELOC Subservicer may consent to
the placing of a lien senior to that of the Mortgage on the related Mortgaged
Property; provided,
(i) the Combined Loan-to-Value Ratio, which may be based
on a new appraisal, of the related HELOC Mortgage Loan immediately
following the modification is not greater than the Combined
Loan-to-Value Ratio of such HELOC Mortgage Loan as of the date such
HELOC Mortgage Loan was originated; or
(ii) in the case of any such action that would result in
an increase in the Combined Loan-to-Value Ratio over the Combined
Loan-to-Value Ratio as of the date such HELOC Mortgage Loan was
originated, the aggregate number of HELOC Mortgage Loans with respect
to which a new senior lien is consented to by the HELOC Subservicer
does not exceed 5% of the number of HELOC Mortgage Loans as of the
Cut-off Date or 30% of the aggregate Stated Principal Balance of the
HELOC Mortgage Loans as of such date, and the Combined Loan-to-Value
Ratio after giving effect to the modification does not exceed 100%.
(c) The HELOC Subservicer or the related Subservicer, as the case
may be, shall be entitled to (A) execute assumption agreements, substitution
agreements, and instruments of satisfaction or cancellation or of full release
or discharge, or any other document contemplated by this HELOC Subservicing
Agreement and other comparable instruments with respect to the HELOC Mortgage
Loans and with respect to the Mortgaged Properties subject to the Mortgages (and
the
6
HELOC Master Servicer shall promptly execute or cause to be executed any such
documents on request of the HELOC Subservicer and prepared by it) and (B)
approve the granting of an easement thereon in favor of another Person, any
alteration or demolition of the related Mortgaged Property or other similar
matters, if it has determined, exercising its good faith business judgment in
the same manner as it would if it were the owner of the related HELOC Mortgage
Loan, that the security for, and the timely and full collectability of, such
HELOC Mortgage Loan would not be adversely affected thereby. An assumption
pursuant to this Section 3.01 is permitted solely if the creditworthiness of the
prospective purchaser of a Mortgaged Property meets the same or better
underwriting guidelines as those which were applied to the original borrower and
the security for such HELOC Mortgage Loan is not impaired by the assumption. Any
fee collected by the HELOC Subservicer or the related Subservicer for processing
such request will be retained by the HELOC Subservicer or such Subservicer as
additional servicing compensation.
(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection 3.01(a), the
HELOC Subservicer shall not take any action inconsistent with the interests of
the HELOC Master Servicer or with the rights and interests of the HELOC Master
Servicer under this HELOC Subservicing Agreement.
(e) The HELOC Master Servicer shall execute and return to the
HELOC Subservicer any limited powers of attorney and other documents in form as
provided to the HELOC Master Servicer necessary or appropriate to enable the
HELOC Subservicer to service and administer the related HELOC Mortgage Loans and
REO Property.
(f) With respect to each HELOC Mortgage Loan, the HELOC
Subservicer may also, without approval from the Rating Agencies or the Insurer,
increase the Credit Limit on a HELOC Mortgage Loan if such increase is
consistent with the HELOC Subservicer's underwriting policies and a new
Appraised Value is obtained and the Combined Loan-to-Value Ratio of the HELOC
Mortgage Loan after giving effect to the increase is less than or equal to the
Combined Loan-to-Value Ratio of the HELOC Mortgage Loan as of the Cut-off Date.
(g) With respect to each HELOC Mortgage Loan, the HELOC
Subservicer may increase the Credit Limits on up to 10% of the number of HELOC
Mortgage Loans as of the Cut-off Date if the increase in the Credit Limit of any
single HELOC Mortgage Loan does not cause the Combined Loan-to-Value Ratio of
such HELOC Mortgage Loan to exceed 100%.
(h) With respect to each HELOC Mortgage Loan, the HELOC
Subservicer, without prior approval from the Rating Agencies or the Insurer, may
solicit Mortgagors for a reduction in Margins on up to 10% of the number of
HELOC Mortgage Loans as of the Cut-off Date, provided that the cumulative impact
of any such Margin reductions shall not result in the reduction of the weighted
average Margin of the HELOC Mortgage Loans as of the Cut-off Date by more than
25 basis points taking into account any prior reductions.
In no event shall the HELOC Subservicer modify the maturity of any HELOC
Mortgage Loan to a maturity that is later than the Final Scheduled Payment Date.
Nothing in this HELOC Subservicing Agreement shall limit the right of the HELOC
Subservicer to solicit mortgagors with respect to new loans (including mortgage
loans) that are not HELOC Mortgage Loans.
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Section 3.02 SUBSERVICING AGREEMENTS BETWEEN HELOC SUBSERVICER AND
SUBSERVICERS. (a) The HELOC Subservicer may enter into Subservicing Agreements
with Subservicers for the servicing and administration of the HELOC Mortgage
Loans and for the performance of any and all other activities of the HELOC
Subservicer hereunder. Each Subservicer shall be either (i) an institution the
accounts of which are insured by the FDIC or (ii) another entity that engages in
the business of originating or servicing mortgage loans comparable to the HELOC
Mortgage Loans, and in either case shall be authorized to transact business in
the state or states in which the related Mortgaged Properties it is to service
are situated, if and to the extent required by applicable law to enable the
Subservicer to perform its obligations hereunder and under the related
Subservicing Agreement, and in either case shall be a Xxxxxxx Mac or Xxxxxx Mae
approved mortgage servicer. Any Subservicing Agreement entered into by the HELOC
Subservicer shall include the provision that such Agreement may be terminated
with or without cause and without the payment of any termination fee by any
successor HELOC Subservicer (including, without limitation, the HELOC Master
Servicer as successor HELOC Subservicer) under this HELOC Subservicing
Agreement. In addition, each Subservicing Agreement shall provide for servicing
of the HELOC Mortgage Loans consistent with the terms of this HELOC Subservicing
Agreement. The HELOC Subservicer and the Subservicers may enter into
Subservicing Agreements and make amendments to the Subservicing Agreements or
enter into different forms of Subservicing Agreements providing for, among other
things, the delegation by the HELOC Subservicer to a Subservicer of additional
duties regarding the administration of the HELOC Mortgage Loans; provided,
however, that any such amendments or different forms shall be consistent with
and not violate the provisions of this HELOC Subservicing Agreement, and that no
such amendment or different form shall be made or entered into which could be
reasonably expected to be materially adverse to the interests of the HELOC
Master Servicer, without the consent of the HELOC Master Servicer.
(b) As part of its servicing activities hereunder, the HELOC
Subservicer, for the benefit of the HELOC Master Servicer, shall enforce the
obligations of each Subservicer under the related Subservicing Agreement. Such
enforcement, including, without limitation, the legal prosecution of claims,
termination of Subservicing Agreements and the pursuit of other appropriate
remedies, shall be in such form and carried out to such an extent and at such
time as the HELOC Subservicer, in its good faith business judgment, would
require were it the owner of the related HELOC Mortgage Loans. The HELOC
Subservicer shall pay the costs of such enforcement at its own expense, but
shall be reimbursed therefor only (i) from a general recovery resulting from
such enforcement only to the extent, if any, that such recovery exceeds all
amounts due in respect of the related Mortgage Loan or (ii) from a specific
recovery of costs, expenses or attorneys' fees against the party against whom
such enforcement is directed.
Section 3.03 SUCCESSOR SUBSERVICERS. The HELOC Subservicer shall be
entitled to terminate any Subservicing Agreement that may exist in accordance
with the terms and conditions of such Subservicing Agreement subject to the
terms of Section 3.02(a) of this HELOC Subservicing Agreement; provided,
however, that upon termination, the HELOC Subservicer shall either act as
servicer of the related Mortgage Loan or enter into an appropriate contract with
a successor Subservicer and in conformance with the terms of Section 3.02(a) of
this HELOC Subservicing Agreement pursuant to which such successor Subservicer
will be bound by all relevant terms of the related Subservicing Agreement and
this HELOC Subservicing Agreement pertaining to the servicing of such HELOC
Mortgage Loan.
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Section 3.04 LIABILITY OF THE HELOC SUBSERVICER. (a) Notwithstanding
any Subservicing Agreement, any of the provisions of this HELOC Subservicing
Agreement relating to agreements or arrangements between the HELOC Subservicer
and a Subservicer or reference to actions taken through a Subservicer or
otherwise, the HELOC Subservicer shall under all circumstances remain obligated
and primarily liable to the HELOC Master Servicer for the servicing and
administering of the HELOC Mortgage Loans and any REO Property in accordance
with this HELOC Subservicing Agreement. The obligations and liability of the
HELOC Subservicer shall not be diminished by virtue of Subservicing Agreements
or by virtue of indemnification of the HELOC Subservicer by any Subservicer, or
any other Person. The obligations and liability of the HELOC Subservicer shall
remain of the same nature and under the same terms and conditions as if the
HELOC Subservicer alone were servicing and administering the related HELOC
Mortgage Loans. The HELOC Subservicer shall, however, be entitled to enter into
indemnification agreements with any Subservicer or other Person and nothing in
this HELOC Subservicing Agreement shall be deemed to limit or modify such
indemnification. For the purposes of this HELOC Subservicing Agreement, the
HELOC Subservicer shall be deemed to have received any payment on a HELOC
Mortgage Loan on the date the Subservicer received such payment; provided,
however, that this sentence shall not apply to the HELOC Master Servicer as the
successor HELOC Subservicer.
Any Subservicing Agreement that may be entered into and any
transactions or services relating to the HELOC Mortgage Loans involving a
Subservicer in its capacity as such shall be deemed to be between the
Subservicer and the HELOC Subservicer alone, and the HELOC Master Servicer shall
not be deemed a party thereto and shall have no claims, rights, obligations,
duties or liabilities with respect to the Subservicer except as set forth in
Section 3.05.
Section 3.05 ASSUMPTION OR TERMINATION OF SUBSERVICING AGREEMENTS BY
HELOC MASTER SERVICER. (a) If the HELOC Master Servicer or a successor HELOC
Subservicer shall assume the servicing obligations of the HELOC Subservicer in
accordance with Section 6.02 below, the HELOC Master Servicer, to the extent
necessary to permit the HELOC Master Servicer to carry out the provisions of
Section 6.02 with respect to the HELOC Mortgage Loans, shall succeed to all of
the rights and obligations of the HELOC Subservicer under each of the
Subservicing Agreements. In such event, the HELOC Master Servicer or its
designee as the successor master servicer shall be deemed to have assumed all of
the HELOC Subservicer's rights and obligations therein and to have replaced the
HELOC Subservicer as a party to such Subservicing Agreements to the same extent
as if such Subservicing Agreements had been assigned to the HELOC Master
Servicer or its designee as a successor master servicer, except that the HELOC
Master Servicer or its designee as a successor HELOC subservicer shall not be
deemed to have assumed any obligations or liabilities of the HELOC Subservicer
arising prior to such assumption and the HELOC Subservicer shall not thereby be
relieved of any liability or obligations under such Subservicing Agreements
arising prior to such assumption. Nothing in the foregoing shall be deemed to
entitle the HELOC Master Servicer or its designee as a successor HELOC
subservicer at any time to receive any portion of the servicing compensation
provided under Section 3.15 except for such portion as the HELOC Subservicer
would be entitled to receive.
(b) In the event that the HELOC Master Servicer or a successor
HELOC Subservicer assumes the servicing obligations of the HELOC Subservicer
under Section 6.02, upon the
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reasonable request of the HELOC Master Servicer or such successor HELOC
Subservicer, the HELOC Subservicer shall at its own expense (or the expense of
the Trust, if the HELOC Subservicer fails to do so) deliver to the HELOC Master
Servicer, or to such successor HELOC Subservicer photocopies of all documents,
files and records, electronic or otherwise, relating to the Subservicing
Agreements and the related HELOC Mortgage Loans or REO Property then being
serviced and an accounting of amounts collected and held by it, if any, and will
otherwise cooperate and use its reasonable efforts to effect the orderly and
efficient transfer of the Subservicing Agreements, or responsibilities hereunder
to the HELOC Master Servicer, or to such successor HELOC Subservicer.
Section 3.06 COLLECTION OF MORTGAGE LOAN PAYMENTS. (a) The HELOC
Subservicer will coordinate and monitor remittances by Subservicers to it with
respect to the HELOC Mortgage Loans in accordance with this HELOC Subservicing
Agreement.
(b) The HELOC Subservicer shall make its best reasonable efforts
to collect or cause to be collected all payments required under the terms and
provisions of the HELOC Mortgage Loans and shall follow, and use its best
reasonable efforts to cause Subservicers to follow, collection procedures
comparable to the collection procedures of prudent mortgage lenders servicing
home equity line of credit mortgage loans for their own account to the extent
such procedures shall be consistent with this HELOC Subservicing Agreement.
Consistent with the foregoing, the HELOC Subservicer or the related Subservicer
may in its discretion (i) waive or permit to be waived any late payment charge,
prepayment charge, assumption fee, or any penalty interest in connection with
the prepayment of a Mortgage Loan and (ii) arrange or permit an arrangement with
a Mortgagor for the payment of interest due and unpaid; provided, however, that
the HELOC Subservicer or the related Subservicer may permit the foregoing only
if it believes, in good faith, that recoveries of Monthly Payments will be
maximized; provided further, however, that Monthly Payments may not be suspended
during the twelve months prior to the final maturity of the Class VII-A Notes.
(c) Within five Business Days after the HELOC Subservicer has
determined that all amounts which it expects to recover from or on account of a
HELOC Mortgage Loan have been recovered and that no further Liquidation Proceeds
or Recoveries will be received in connection therewith, the HELOC Subservicer
shall provide to the HELOC Master Servicer a certificate of a Servicing Officer
that such HELOC Mortgage Loan became a Liquidated Mortgage Loan or a Charged-Off
HELOC Mortgage Loan as of the date of such determination. The HELOC Subservicer
shall provide to the HELOC Master Servicer a monthly summary of each HELOC
Mortgage Loan that became a Liquidated Mortgage Loan or a Charged-Off HELOC
Mortgage Loan.
(d) The HELOC Subservicer shall establish a segregated account in
the name of the Indenture Trustee for the benefit of the Class VII-A Noteholders
(the "Collection Account"), which shall be an Eligible Account, in which the
HELOC Subservicer shall deposit or cause to be deposited any amounts
representing payments on and any collections in respect of the HELOC Mortgage
Loans due subsequent to the Cut-off Date (other than in respect of the payments
referred to in the following paragraph) within 48 hours following receipt
thereof (or otherwise on or prior to the Closing Date), including the following
payments and collections received or made by it (without duplication):
(i) all payments of principal, including Principal
Prepayments, of or interest on the HELOC Mortgage Loans (including
advances by a Subservicer) received by the HELOC Subservicer directly
from Mortgagors or from the respective Subservicer;
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(ii) [Reserved];
(iii) Net Liquidation Proceeds;
(iv) all proceeds of any HELOC Mortgage Loans repurchased
by the Seller pursuant to the Mortgage Loan Purchase Agreement and the
amount of any Transferor Deposit Amount paid by the Seller during the
related Due Period pursuant to the Mortgage Loan Purchase Agreement and
all Substitution Adjustment Amounts required to be deposited in
connection with the substitution of an Eligible Substitute Mortgage
Loan pursuant to the Mortgage Loan Purchase Agreement;
(v) Insurance Proceeds, other than Net Liquidation
Proceeds, resulting from any insurance policy maintained on a Mortgaged
Property;
(vi) [Reserved];
(vii) Released Mortgaged Property Proceeds;
(viii) Net Recoveries; and
(ix) any other amounts received by the HELOC Subservicer,
including any fees or penalties not retained by a Subservicer, required
to be deposited in the Collection Account pursuant to this HELOC
Subservicing Agreement.
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that with respect to each Due Period, the HELOC Subservicer
shall be permitted to retain from payments in respect of interest on the HELOC
Mortgage Loans, the HELOC Subservicing Fee for such Due Period. The foregoing
requirements respecting deposits to the Collection Account are exclusive, it
being understood that, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the
HELOC Subservicer need not deposit in the Collection Account fees (including
annual fees or assumption fees) or late charge and prepayment penalties, payable
by Mortgagors, each as further described in Section 3.15, or amounts received by
the HELOC Subservicer for the accounts of Mortgagors for application towards the
payment of taxes, insurance premiums, assessments and similar items, which
amounts shall be deposited in the related Servicing Account pursuant to Section
3.08. In the event any amount not required to be deposited in the Collection
Account is so deposited, the HELOC Subservicer may at any time (prior to being
terminated under this Agreement) withdraw such amount from the Collection
Account, any provision herein to the contrary notwithstanding. The HELOC
Subservicer shall keep records that accurately reflect the funds on deposit in
the Collection Account that have been identified by it as being attributable to
the HELOC Mortgage Loans and shall hold all collections in the Collection
Account for the benefit of the Class VII-A Noteholders. The HELOC Subservicer
shall remit all Foreclosure Profits to the Collection Account, to the extent not
payable to the related Subservicer.
Funds in the Collection Account may not be invested with, and shall not
be commingled with, the HELOC Subservicer's own funds or general assets or with
funds respecting payments on mortgage loans or with any other funds not related
to the Class VII-A Notes. Funds in the Collection
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Account shall be invested solely in Eligible Investments, designated in the name
of the Indenture Trustee for the benefit of the Class VII-A Noteholders, which
shall mature not later than the Business Day next preceding the HELOC
Subservicer Remittance Date next following the date of such investment and shall
not be sold or disposed of prior to maturity. All income and gain realized from
any such investment shall be for the benefit of the HELOC Subservicer or the
related Subservicer. The amount of any losses incurred with respect to any such
investments shall be deposited in the Collection Account by the HELOC
Subservicer.
(e) The HELOC Subservicer will require each Subservicer to hold
all funds constituting collections on the HELOC Mortgage Loans, pending
remittance thereof to the HELOC Subservicer, in one or more accounts meeting the
requirements of an Eligible Account, and invested in Eligible Investments, and
in the name of the Indenture Trustee for the benefit of the Class VII-A
Noteholders. The related Subservicer shall segregate and hold all funds
collected and received pursuant to each HELOC Mortgage Loan separate and apart
from any of its own funds and general assets and any other funds.
Section 3.07 WITHDRAWALS FROM THE COLLECTION ACCOUNT. (a) The HELOC
Subservicer shall, from time to time as provided herein, make withdrawals from
the Collection Account of amounts on deposit therein pursuant to Section 3.06
that are attributable to the HELOC Mortgage Loans for the following purposes
(without duplication):
(i) to deposit in the Payment Account, by the HELOC
Subservicer Remittance Date, the Available Funds required to be
distributed as provided in the Indenture on a Payment Date;
(ii) to the extent deposited to the Collection Account, to
reimburse itself or the related Subservicer for previously unreimbursed
expenses incurred in maintaining individual insurance policies pursuant
to Sections 3.10 or 3.11, or Liquidation Expenses, paid pursuant to
Section 3.13 or otherwise reimbursable pursuant to the terms of this
HELOC Subservicing Agreement, such withdrawal right being limited to
amounts received on the related HELOC Mortgage Loans (other than any
Repurchase Price in respect thereto) which represent late recoveries of
the payments for which such advances were made, or from related
Liquidation Proceeds or related Recoveries;
(iii) to pay to itself out of each payment received on
account of interest on a HELOC Mortgage Loan as contemplated by Section
3.15, an amount equal to the related HELOC Subservicing Fee (to the
extent not retained pursuant to Section 3.06);
(iv) to pay to itself or the Seller, with respect to any
HELOC Mortgage Loan or property acquired in respect thereof that has
been purchased or otherwise transferred to the Seller, the HELOC
Subservicer or other entity, all amounts received thereon and not
required to be distributed to Class VII-A Noteholders as of the date on
which the related Purchase Price or Repurchase Price is determined;
(v) [Reserved];
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(vi) to reimburse the HELOC Subservicer or any Subservicer
from Insurance Proceeds, Liquidation Proceeds or Recoveries relating to
a particular HELOC Mortgage Loan for amounts expended by the HELOC
Subservicer or such Subservicer pursuant to Section 3.13 in good faith
in connection with the restoration of the related Mortgaged Property
which was damaged by the Uninsured Cause or in connection with the
liquidation of such HELOC Mortgage Loan;
(vii) to pay the HELOC Subservicer or any Subservicer
(payment to any Subservicer to be subject to prior payment to the HELOC
Subservicer of an amount equal to the HELOC Subservicing Fee), as
appropriate, from Liquidation Proceeds, Insurance Proceeds or
Recoveries received in connection with the liquidation of any HELOC
Mortgage Loan, the amount which it or such Subservicer would have been
entitled to receive under subclause (iii) of this Subsection 3.07(a) as
servicing compensation on account of each defaulted Monthly Payment on
such HELOC Mortgage Loan if paid in a timely manner by the related
Mortgagor, but only to the extent that the aggregate of Liquidation
Proceeds, Insurance Proceeds and Recoveries with respect to such HELOC
Mortgage Loan, after any reimbursement to the HELOC Subservicer or any
Subservicer, pursuant to other subclauses of this Subsection 3.07(a),
exceeds the outstanding Stated Principal Balance of such HELOC Mortgage
Loan plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon at the related Mortgage
Rate less the HELOC Subservicing Fee Rate to but not including the date
of payment (in any event, the aggregate amount of servicing
compensation received by a Subservicer and the HELOC Subservicer with
respect to any defaulted Monthly Payment shall not exceed the
applicable HELOC Subservicing Fee);
(viii) to reimburse the HELOC Subservicer or any Subservicer
for any Nonrecoverable Advance previously made, and not otherwise
reimbursed pursuant to this Subsection 3.07(a);
(ix) to withdraw any other amount deposited in the
Collection Account that was not required to be deposited therein
pursuant to Section 3.06;
(x) to withdraw any amount received from a Mortgagor that
is recoverable and sought to be recovered as a voidable preference by a
trustee in bankruptcy pursuant to the Bankruptcy Code in accordance
with a final, nonappealable order of a court having competent
jurisdiction;
(xi) to reimburse the HELOC Subservicer for costs incurred
by it associated with the environmental report specified in Section
3.13(e);
(xii) to pay to the Seller, on behalf of the Depositor, to
the extent that principal collections exceed Draws, the outstanding
principal balance of each Additional Balance purchased by the Depositor
from the Seller pursuant to the Mortgage Loan Purchase Agreement; and
(xiii) to clear and terminate the Collection Account
following a termination of the Trust pursuant to Section 8.01 of the
Trust Agreement.
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In connection with withdrawals pursuant to clauses (ii), (iii), (iv), (vi) and
(vii), the HELOC Subservicer's entitlement thereto is limited to collections or
other recoveries on the related HELOC Mortgage Loan, and the HELOC Subservicer
shall keep and maintain separate accounting, on a HELOC Mortgage Loan by HELOC
Mortgage Loan basis, for the purpose of justifying any withdrawal from the
Collection Account pursuant to such clauses. Notwithstanding any other provision
of this HELOC Subservicing Agreement, the HELOC Subservicer shall be entitled to
reimburse itself for any previously unreimbursed expenses incurred pursuant to
Section 3.13 or otherwise reimbursable expenses incurred pursuant to the terms
of this HELOC Subservicing Agreement, but only to the extent of collections or
other recoveries on the related HELOC Mortgage Loan.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 3.07, the HELOC
Subservicer may, but is not required to, allow the Subservicers to deduct from
amounts received by them or from the related account maintained by a
Subservicer, prior to deposit in the Collection Account, any portion to which
such Subservicers are entitled hereunder as servicing compensation (including
income on Eligible Investments) or reimbursement of any reimbursable Servicing
Advances made by such Subservicers.
(c) The HELOC Subservicer shall pay to the HELOC Master Servicer
interest on any payments to the Payment Account which were due on a HELOC
Subservicer Remittance Date but were made after the related HELOC Subservicer
Remittance Date at a rate equal to the federal funds rate from the date due to
the date paid, both inclusive. This interest shall be solely an obligation of
the HELOC Subservicer and shall not be recoverable by the HELOC Master Servicer
from the Trust or from any other source.
Section 3.08 COLLECTION OF TAXES ASSESSMENTS AND SIMILAR ITEMS;
SERVICING ACCOUNTS.
The HELOC Subservicer and any Subservicers shall not be required to
maintain records relating to the payment of taxes, or deposit or retain any
collections from the Mortgagors for the payment of taxes, assessments, insurance
premiums, or comparable items, with respect to the HELOC Mortgage Loans.
Section 3.09 ACCESS TO CERTAIN DOCUMENTATION AND INFORMATION REGARDING
THE HELOC MORTGAGE LOANS. The HELOC Subservicer shall provide, and shall cause
any Subservicer to provide, to the HELOC Master Servicer or its designee access
to the documentation regarding the related HELOC Mortgage Loans and REO Property
and to the Class VII-A Noteholders, the FDIC, and the supervisory agents and
examiners of the FDIC access to the documentation regarding the related HELOC
Mortgage Loans required by applicable regulations, such access being afforded
without charge but only upon reasonable request and during normal business hours
at the offices of the HELOC Subservicer or the Subservicers that are designated
by these entities; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that, unless otherwise required by law,
the HELOC Subservicer or the Subservicer shall not be required to provide access
to such documentation if the provision thereof would violate the legal right to
privacy of any Mortgagor; PROVIDED, FURTHER, HOWEVER, that the HELOC Master
Servicer shall coordinate its requests for such access so as not to impose an
unreasonable burden on, or cause an unreasonable interruption of, the business
of the HELOC Subservicer or any Subservicer. The
14
HELOC Subservicer and the Subservicers shall allow representatives of the above
entities to photocopy any of the documentation and shall provide equipment for
that purpose at a charge that covers their own actual out-of-pocket costs.
Section 3.10 RESERVED.
Section 3.11 MAINTENANCE OF HAZARD INSURANCE AND FIDELITY COVERAGE. (a)
The HELOC Subservicer shall maintain and keep, or cause each Subservicer to
maintain and keep, with respect to each Mortgage Loan and REO Property, in full
force and effect hazard insurance (fire insurance with extended coverage) equal
to the lesser of (i) the maximum insurable value of the improvements securing
such HELOC Mortgage Loan from time to time, (ii) the combined principal balance
owing on such HELOC Mortgage Loan and any mortgage loan senior to such HELOC
Mortgage Loan and (iii) the minimum amount required to compensate for damage or
loss on a replacement cost basis, and containing a standard mortgagee clause,
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the amount of hazard insurance may not be less than the
amount necessary to prevent loss due to the application of any co-insurance
provision of the related policy. Unless applicable state law requires a higher
deductible, the deductible on such hazard insurance policy may be no more than
$1,000 or 1% of the applicable amount of coverage, whichever is less. In the
case of a condominium unit or a unit in a planned unit development, the required
hazard insurance shall take the form of a multi-peril policy covering the entire
condominium project or planned unit development, in an amount equal to at least
100% of the insurable value based on replacement cost.
(b) Any amounts collected by the HELOC Subservicer or a
Subservicer under any such hazard insurance policy (other than amounts to be
applied to the restoration or repair of the Mortgaged Property or amounts
released to the Mortgagor in accordance with the HELOC Subservicer's or a
Subservicer's normal servicing procedures, the Mortgage Note or applicable law)
shall be deposited initially in a Collection Account, for transmittal to the
Payment Account, subject to withdrawal pursuant to Section 3.07.
(c) Any cost incurred by a HELOC Subservicer or a Subservicer in
maintaining any such hazard insurance policy shall not be added to the amount
owing under the HELOC Mortgage Loan for the purpose of calculating monthly
distributions to the HELOC Master Servicer, notwithstanding that the terms of
the HELOC Mortgage Loan so permit. Such costs shall be recoverable by the HELOC
Subservicer or a Subservicer out of related late payments by the Mortgagor or
out of Insurance Proceeds or Liquidation Proceeds or by the HELOC Subservicer
from the Repurchase Price, to the extent permitted by Section 3.07.
(d) No earthquake or other additional insurance is to be required
of any Mortgagor other than pursuant to such applicable laws and regulations as
shall at any time be in force and shall require such additional insurance.
(e) If insurance has not been maintained complying with Subsection
3.11 (a) and there shall have been a loss which would have been covered by such
insurance had it been maintained, the HELOC Subservicer shall pay, or cause the
related Subservicer to pay, for any necessary repairs.
15
(f) The HELOC Subservicer shall present, or cause the related
Subservicer to present, claims under the related hazard insurance.
(g) The HELOC Subservicer shall obtain and maintain at its own
expense and for the duration of this HELOC Subservicing Agreement and shall
cause each Subservicer to obtain and maintain a blanket fidelity bond and an
errors and omissions insurance policy covering such Person's officers, employees
and other persons acting on its behalf in connection with its activities under
this HELOC Subservicing Agreement or the related Subservicing Agreement. The
amount of coverage shall be at least equal to the coverage maintained by the
HELOC Subservicer acceptable to Xxxxxx Xxx or Xxxxxxx Mac to service loans for
it or otherwise in an amount as is commercially available at a cost that is
generally not regarded as excessive by industry standards. The HELOC Subservicer
shall promptly notify the HELOC Master Servicer of any material change in the
terms of such bond or policy. The HELOC Subservicer shall provide annually to
the HELOC Master Servicer a certificate of insurance that each such bond and
policy are in effect. If any such bond or policy ceases to be in effect, the
HELOC Subservicer shall, to the extent possible, give the HELOC Master Servicer
ten days' notice prior to any such cessation and the HELOC Subservicer shall use
its reasonable best efforts to obtain a comparable replacement bond or policy,
as the case may be. Any amounts relating to the HELOC Mortgage Loans collected
under each such bond or policy shall be deposited initially in a Collection
Account for transmittal to the Payment Account, subject to withdrawal pursuant
to Section 3.07.
Section 3.12 DUE-ON-SALE CLAUSES; ASSUMPTION AGREEMENTS. (a) In any
case in which the HELOC Subservicer is notified by any Mortgagor or Subservicer
that a Mortgaged Property relating to a HELOC Mortgage Loan has been or is about
to be conveyed by the Mortgagor, the HELOC Subservicer shall enforce, or shall
instruct such Subservicer to enforce, any due-on-sale clause contained in the
related Mortgage to the extent permitted under the terms of the related Mortgage
Note and by applicable law. If the HELOC Subservicer reasonably believes that
such due-on-sale clause cannot be enforced under applicable law or if the HELOC
Mortgage Loan does not contain a due-on-sale clause, the HELOC Subservicer is
authorized, and may authorize any Subservicer, to consent to a conveyance
subject to the lien of the Mortgage, and to take or enter into an assumption
agreement from or with the Person to whom such property has been or is about to
be conveyed, pursuant to which such Person becomes liable under the related
HELOC Mortgage Note and unless prohibited by applicable state law, such
Mortgagor remains liable thereon, on condition, however, that the related HELOC
Mortgage Loan shall continue to be covered by a hazard policy. In connection
with any such assumption, no material term of the related Mortgage Note may be
changed. The HELOC Subservicer shall forward to the Custodian the original copy
of such assumption agreement, which copy shall be added by the Custodian to the
related Mortgage File and which shall, for all purposes, be considered a part of
such Mortgage File to the same extent as all other documents and instruments
constituting a part thereof. A portion, equal to up to 2% of the Stated
Principal Balance of the related HELOC Mortgage Loan, of any fee or additional
interest collected by the HELOC Subservicer or the related Subservicer for
consenting in any such conveyance or entering into any such assumption agreement
may be retained by the HELOC Subservicer as additional servicing compensation.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing paragraph or any other provision
of this HELOC Subservicing Agreement, the HELOC Subservicer shall not be deemed
to be in default, breach or
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any other violation of its obligations hereunder by reason of any assumption of
a HELOC Mortgage Loan by operation of law or any conveyance by the Mortgagor of
the related Mortgaged Property or assumption of a HELOC Mortgage Loan which the
HELOC Subservicer reasonably believes it may be restricted by law from
preventing, for any reason whatsoever or if the exercise of such right would
impair or threaten to impair any recovery under any applicable insurance policy.
Section 3.13 REALIZATION UPON DEFAULTED HELOC MORTGAGE LOANS. (a) The
HELOC Subservicer shall, or shall direct the related Subservicer to, foreclose
upon or otherwise comparably convert the ownership of properties securing any
HELOC Mortgage Loans that come into and continue in default and as to which no
satisfactory arrangements can be made for collection of delinquent payments
pursuant to Section 3.06 only if the HELOC Subservicer determines that there is
sufficient equity in the related Mortgaged Property to justify such foreclosure,
except that the HELOC Subservicer shall not, and shall not direct the related
Subservicer to, foreclose upon or otherwise comparably convert a Mortgaged
Property if there is evidence of toxic waste or other environmental hazards
thereon unless the HELOC Subservicer follows the procedures in Subsection (e)
below.
(b) The HELOC Subservicer shall foreclose or shall direct the
related Subservicer to foreclose on any Mortgaged Property in the name of the
Indenture Trustee for the benefit of the Class VII-A Noteholders.
(c) In connection with such foreclosure or other conversion, the
HELOC Subservicer in conjunction with the related Subservicer, if any, shall use
its best reasonable efforts to preserve REO Property and to realize upon
defaulted HELOC Mortgage Loans in such manner (including short sales) as to
maximize the receipt of principal and interest by the Class VII-A Noteholders,
taking into account, among other things, the timing of foreclosure and the
considerations set forth in Subsection 3.13(d). The foregoing is subject to the
proviso that the HELOC Subservicer shall not be required to expend its own funds
in connection with any foreclosure or towards the restoration of any property
unless it determines in good faith (i) that such restoration or foreclosure will
increase the proceeds of liquidation of the HELOC Mortgage Loan to the Class
VII-A Noteholders after reimbursement to itself for such expenses and (ii) that
such expenses will be recoverable to it either through Liquidation Proceeds
(respecting which it shall have priority for purposes of reimbursements from the
Collection Account pursuant to Section 3.07) or through Insurance Proceeds
(respecting which it shall have similar priority). The HELOC Subservicer shall
be responsible for all other costs and expenses incurred by it in any such
proceedings; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that it shall be entitled to reimbursement
thereof (as well as its normal servicing compensation). Any income from or other
funds (net of any income taxes) generated by REO Property shall be deemed for
purposes of this HELOC Subservicing Agreement to be Insurance Proceeds.
(d) The Trust Estate shall not acquire any real property (or any
personal property incident to such real property) except in connection with a
default or reasonably foreseeable default of a HELOC Mortgage Loan. In the event
that the Trust Estate acquires any real property (or personal property incident
to such real property) in connection with a default or imminent default of a
HELOC Mortgage Loan, such property shall be disposed of by the HELOC Subservicer
(or its agent) on behalf of the Trust Estate within two years after its
acquisition by the Trust Estate.
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(e) With respect to any HELOC Mortgage Loan as to which the HELOC
Subservicer or a Subservicer has received notice of, or has actual knowledge of,
the presence of any toxic or hazardous substance on the Mortgaged Property, the
HELOC Subservicer shall promptly notify the HELOC Master Servicer and shall act
in accordance with any directions and instructions provided by the HELOC Master
Servicer. If the HELOC Master Servicer has not provided directions and
instructions to the HELOC Subservicer in connection with any such HELOC Mortgage
Loan within 30 days of a request by the HELOC Subservicer for such directions
and instructions, then the HELOC Subservicer shall take such action as it deems
to be in the best economic interest of the Trust Estate (other than proceeding
against the Mortgaged Property) and is hereby authorized at such time as it
deems appropriate to release such Mortgaged Property from the lien of the
related Mortgage. The parties hereto acknowledge that the HELOC Subservicer
shall not obtain on behalf of the Issuer a deed as a result or in lieu of
foreclosure, and shall not otherwise acquire possession of or title to, or
commence any proceedings to acquire possession of or title to, or take any other
action with respect to, any Mortgaged Property, if the HELOC Master Servicer,
the Owner Trustee or the Indenture Trustee could reasonably be considered to be
a responsible party for any liability arising from the presence of any toxic or
hazardous substance on the Mortgaged Property, unless the HELOC Master Servicer,
the Owner Trustee or the Indenture Trustee has been indemnified to its
reasonable satisfaction against such liability.
Section 3.14 HELOC MASTER SERVICER TO COOPERATE; RELEASE OF MORTGAGE
FILES. (a) Upon payment in full of any HELOC Mortgage Loan following the end of
the related Draw Period, the HELOC Subservicer will immediately notify the
Custodian by a certification signed by a Servicing Officer in the form of the
request for release (the "Request for Release") attached hereto as Exhibit B
(which certification shall include a statement to the effect that all amounts
received or to be received in connection with such payment which are required to
be deposited in the Payment Account have been so deposited) and shall request
delivery to the HELOC Subservicer or Subservicer, as the case may be, of the
related Mortgage File. Upon receipt of such certification and request, the
Custodian shall cause the related Mortgage File to be released to the HELOC
Subservicer or Subservicer and shall cause to be executed and delivered to the
HELOC Subservicer, without recourse, an instrument of satisfaction of mortgage
releasing the lien of the Mortgage (furnished by the HELOC Subservicer),
together with the Mortgage Note with written evidence of cancellation thereon.
In connection with the satisfaction of any MOM Loan, the HELOC Subservicer is
authorized to cause the removal from the registration on the MERS(R) System of
such Mortgage.
(b) From time to time as is appropriate, for the servicing or
foreclosure of any HELOC Mortgage Loan or collection under an insurance policy,
the HELOC Subservicer may deliver to the Custodian a Request for Release signed
by a Servicing Officer on behalf of the HELOC Subservicer in substantially the
form attached as Exhibit B hereto. Upon receipt of the Request for Release, the
Custodian, on behalf of the Indenture Trustee, shall cause to be delivered the
Mortgage File or any document therein to the HELOC Subservicer or Subservicer,
as the case may be, as bailee for the Indenture Trustee.
(c) The HELOC Subservicer shall cause each Mortgage File or any
document therein released pursuant to Subsection 3.14(b) to be returned to the
Custodian as custodian for the Indenture Trustee when the need therefor no
longer exists, and in any event within 21 days of the HELOC
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Subservicer's receipt thereof, unless the HELOC Mortgage Loan has become a
Liquidated Mortgage Loan or a Charged-Off HELOC Mortgage Loan and the
Liquidation Proceeds or Recoveries relating to the HELOC Mortgage Loan have been
deposited in the Collection Account or such Mortgage File is being used to
pursue foreclosure or other legal proceedings. Prior to return of a Mortgage
File or any document to the Custodian, the HELOC Subservicer, the related
insurer or Subservicer to whom such file or document was delivered shall retain
such file or document in its respective control as bailee for the Indenture
Trustee unless the Mortgage File or such document has been delivered to an
attorney, or to a public trustee or other public official as required by law, to
initiate or pursue legal action or other proceedings for the foreclosure of the
related Mortgaged Property either judicially or non- judicially, and the HELOC
Subservicer has delivered to the Custodian a certificate of a Servicing Officer
certifying as to the name and address of the Person to which such Mortgage File
or such document was delivered and the purpose or purposes of such delivery. If
a HELOC Mortgage Loan becomes a Liquidated Mortgage Loan or a Charged-Off HELOC
Mortgage Loan, the HELOC Subservicer shall deliver the Request for Release with
respect thereto to the Custodian and, upon deposit of the related Liquidation
Proceeds or Recoveries in the Collection Account, the Custodian, on behalf of
the Indenture Trustee, shall cause to be delivered the related Mortgage File or
any document therein to the HELOC Subservicer or Subservicer, as applicable.
(d) The Indenture Trustee and the HELOC Master Servicer shall
execute and deliver to the HELOC Subservicer any court pleadings, requests for
trustee's sale or other documents prepared and delivered to the Indenture
Trustee or HELOC Master Servicer for execution necessary to (i) the foreclosure
or trustee's sale with respect to a Mortgaged Property; (ii) any legal action
brought to obtain judgment against any Mortgagor on the Mortgage Note; (iii)
obtain a deficiency judgment against the Mortgagor; or (iv) enforce any other
rights or remedies provided by the Mortgage Note or otherwise available at law
or equity. Together with such documents or pleadings the HELOC Subservicer shall
deliver to the HELOC Master Servicer or the Indenture Trustee, as applicable, a
certificate of a Servicing Officer in which it requests the HELOC Master
Servicer or the Indenture Trustee, as applicable, to cause to be executed the
pleadings or documents. The Indenture Trustee and the HELOC Master Servicer and
any officer, director, employee or agent of the Indenture Trustee or HELOC
Master Servicer, as applicable, may rely in good faith on any such document
submitted by the HELOC Subservicer. The certificate shall certify and explain
the reasons for which the pleadings or documents are required. It shall further
certify that the execution and delivery of the pleadings or documents will not
invalidate any insurance coverage under the insurance policies or invalidate or
otherwise affect the lien of the Mortgage, except for the termination of such a
lien upon completion of the foreclosure or trustee's sale.
Section 3.15 SUBSERVICING COMPENSATION. (a) As compensation for its
activities hereunder, the HELOC Subservicer shall be entitled to receive the
HELOC Subservicing Fee from full payments of accrued interest on each HELOC
Mortgage Loan or as otherwise provided in Section 3.07. The HELOC Subservicer
shall be solely responsible for paying any and all fees with respect to a
Subservicer and the HELOC Master Servicer shall not bear any fees, expenses or
other costs directly associated with any Subservicer.
(b) The HELOC Subservicer may retain additional servicing
compensation in the form of prepayment charges, if any, a portion of the
assumption fees up to 2% of the Stated Principal Balance of the related HELOC
Mortgage Loan, fees for statement of account or payoff, late payment
19
charges, or otherwise, to the extent such fees are collected from the related
Mortgagors or, with respect to a Liquidated Mortgage Loan, to the extent such
fees have accrued. The HELOC Subservicer shall be required to pay all expenses
it incurs in connection with servicing activities under this HELOC Subservicing
Agreement and shall not be entitled in connection with servicing activities
under this HELOC Subservicing Agreement to reimbursement except as provided in
this HELOC Subservicing Agreement. Expenses to be paid by the HELOC Subservicer
under this Subsection 3.15(b) shall include payment of the expenses of the
accountants retained pursuant to Section 3.17.
Section 3.16 ANNUAL STATEMENTS OF COMPLIANCE. No later than March 15 of
each year, commencing in March 2005, the HELOC Subservicer at its own expense
shall deliver to the HELOC Master Servicer, an Officer's Certificate stating, as
to the signer thereof, that (i) a review of the activities of the HELOC
Subservicer during the preceding calendar year and of performance under this
HELOC Subservicing Agreement has been made under such officer's supervision,
(ii) to the best of such officer's knowledge, based on such review, the HELOC
Subservicer has fulfilled all its obligations under this HELOC Subservicing
Agreement for such year, or, if there has been a default in the fulfillment of
any such obligation, specifying each such default known to such officer and the
nature and status thereof including the steps being taken by the HELOC
Subservicer to remedy such default; (iii) a review of the activities of each
Subservicer during the Subservicer's most recently ended calendar year on or
prior to December 31 of the preceding year and its performance under its
Subservicing Agreement has been made under such officer's supervision; and (iv)
to the best of the Servicing Officer's knowledge, based on his review and the
certification of an officer of the Subservicer (unless the Servicing Officer has
reason to believe that reliance on such certification is not justified), either
each Subservicer has performed and fulfilled its duties, responsibilities and
obligations under this HELOC Subservicing Agreement and its Subservicing
Agreement in all material respects throughout the year, or, if there has been a
default in performance or fulfillment of any such duties, responsibilities or
obligations, specifying the nature and status of each such default known to the
Servicing Officer. Copies of such statements shall be provided by the HELOC
Subservicer to the HELOC Master Servicer upon request.
Section 3.17 ANNUAL INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS' SERVICING REPORT.
(a) No later than March 15 of each year, commencing in March 2005, the HELOC
Subservicer, at its expense, shall cause a firm of independent public
accountants which is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public
Accountants and which is Deloitte & Touche LLP (or a successor thereof) to
furnish a statement to the HELOC Subservicer, which will be provided to the
HELOC Master Servicer, to the effect that, in connection with the firm's
examination of the HELOC Subservicer's financial statements as of the end of the
preceding calendar year, nothing came to their attention that indicated that the
HELOC Subservicer was not in compliance with this Agreement, including Sections
3.06, 3.07 and 3.08 except for (i) such exceptions as such firm believes to be
immaterial and (ii) such other exceptions as are set forth in such statement.
(b) No later than March 15 of each year, commencing in March 2005,
the HELOC Subservicer, at its expense, shall or shall cause each Subservicer to
cause a nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants
to furnish to the HELOC Subservicer or such Subservicer a report stating that
(i) it has obtained a letter of representation regarding certain matters from
the management of the HELOC Subservicer or such Subservicer which includes an
assertion
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that the HELOC Subservicer or such Subservicer has complied with certain minimum
mortgage loan servicing standards (to the extent applicable to residential
mortgage loans) identified in the Uniform Single Attestation Program for
Mortgage Bankers established by the Mortgage Bankers Association of America with
respect to the servicing of mortgage loans similar to the HELOC Mortgage Loans
during the most recently completed calendar year and (ii) on the basis of an
examination conducted by such firm in accordance with standards established by
the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, such representation is
fairly stated in all material respects, subject to such exceptions and other
qualifications that may be appropriate. Immediately upon receipt of such report,
the HELOC Subservicer shall or shall cause each Subservicer to furnish a copy of
such report to the HELOC Master Servicer. Any annual independent public
accountants' report furnished pursuant to this Section 3.17 shall be in such
form as shall permit such report to be filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission as part of the Issuer's annual report on Form 10-K filed pursuant to
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and no such annual independent
public accountant's report shall contain any language restricting, limiting or
prohibiting such use of such report.
Section 3.18 RESERVED.
Section 3.19 INFORMATION REQUIRED BY THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE
GENERALLY AND REPORTS OF FORECLOSURES AND ABANDONMENTS OF MORTGAGED PROPERTY.
The HELOC Subservicer shall prepare and deliver all federal and state
information reports when and as required by all applicable state and federal
income tax laws. In particular, with respect to the requirement under Section
6050J of the Code to the effect that the HELOC Subservicer or a Subservicer
shall make reports of foreclosures and abandonments of any mortgaged property
for each year beginning in 2004, the HELOC Subservicer or Subservicer shall file
reports relating to each instance occurring during the previous calendar year in
which the HELOC Subservicer or such Subservicer (i) acquires an interest in any
Mortgaged Property through foreclosure or other comparable conversion in full or
partial satisfaction of a HELOC Mortgage Loan, or (ii) knows or has reason to
know that any Mortgaged Property has been abandoned. The reports from the HELOC
Subservicer or Subservicer shall be in form and substance sufficient to meet the
reporting requirements imposed by Section 6050J, Section 6050H (reports relating
to mortgage interest received) and Section 6050P of the Code (reports relating
to cancellation of indebtedness).
ARTICLE IV
Servicing Certificate
Section 4.01 REMITTANCE REPORTS. On or prior to each Determination
Date, the HELOC Subservicer shall deliver to the Indenture Trustee and the HELOC
Master Servicer a report, prepared as of the close of business on the
Determination Date (the "Remittance Report"), in the form of a disk or such
other electronic method as to which the Indenture Trustee, the HELOC Subservicer
and HELOC Master Servicer shall agree. Such report shall detail the payments and
collections in respect of the HELOC Mortgage Loans for each of the categories of
deposit specified in Section 3.06(d) and each of the categories of withdrawal
specified in Section 3.07(a). In addition, the report shall detail the amounts
for each of the categories specified in the preceding sentence that are to be
21
included in interest collections and principal collections for the related
Payment Date. The Remittance Report and any written information supplemental
thereto shall include such information with respect to the HELOC Mortgage Loans
that is reasonably available to the HELOC Subservicer and that is required by
the Indenture Trustee and the HELOC Master Servicer, as set forth in written
specifications or guidelines issued by the Indenture Trustee and the HELOC
Master Servicer from time to time.
The determination by the HELOC Subservicer of such amounts shall, in
the absence of obvious error, be presumptively deemed to be correct for all
purposes hereunder and the Indenture Trustee and the HELOC Master Servicer shall
be protected in relying upon the same without any independent check or
verification. The Indenture Trustee and the HELOC Master Servicer shall have no
obligation to recompute, recalculate or verify any information provided to it by
the HELOC Subservicer.
Section 4.02 RESERVED.
Section 4.03 RESERVED.
Section 4.04 RESERVED.
Section 4.05 RESERVED.
Section 4.06 ANNUAL CERTIFICATION. For so long as the HELOC Mortgage
Loans are being master serviced by the HELOC Master Servicer, by March 15th of
each year (or if not a Business Day, the immediately preceding Business Day), or
at any other time upon thirty (30) days written request, an officer of the HELOC
Subservicer shall execute and deliver an Officer's Certificate to the HELOC
Master Servicer for the benefit of such HELOC Master Servicer and its officers,
directors and affiliates in the form of Exhibit C-1.
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ARTICLE V
The HELOC Subservicer
Section 5.01 LIABILITY OF THE HELOC SUBSERVICER. The HELOC Subservicer
shall be liable in accordance herewith only to the extent of the obligations
specifically imposed upon and undertaken by the HELOC Subservicer herein.
Section 5.02 MERGER OR CONSOLIDATION OF OR ASSUMPTION OF THE
OBLIGATIONS OF THE HELOC SUBSERVICER. Any corporation into which the HELOC
Subservicer may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or
any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which
the HELOC Subservicer shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to the
business of the HELOC Subservicer, shall be the successor of the HELOC
Subservicer hereunder, without the execution or filing of any paper or any
further act on the part of any of the parties hereto, anything herein to the
contrary notwithstanding; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the successor or surviving
Person to the HELOC Subservicer shall be qualified to sell mortgage loans to and
service mortgage loans for Xxxxxx Xxx or Xxxxxxx Mac.
The HELOC Subservicer may assign its rights and delegate its duties and
obligations under this HELOC Subservicing Agreement; PROVIDED, that the Person
accepting such assignment or delegation shall be a Person which is qualified to
service mortgage loans on behalf of Xxxxxx Mae or Xxxxxxx Mac, is reasonably
satisfactory to the HELOC Master Servicer, is willing to service the HELOC
Mortgage Loans and executes and delivers to the HELOC Master Servicer an
agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the HELOC Master
Servicer, which contains an assumption by such Person of the due and punctual
performance and observance of each covenant and condition to be performed or
observed by the HELOC Subservicer under this HELOC Subservicing Agreement;
PROVIDED, FURTHER, that each Rating Agency's rating of the applicable Class
VII-A Notes in effect immediately prior to such assignment and delegation will
not be qualified, reduced, or withdrawn as a result of such assignment and
delegation (as evidenced by a letter to such effect from each Rating Agency) or
considered to be below investment grade.
Section 5.03 LIMITATION ON LIABILITY OF THE HELOC SUBSERVICER AND
OTHERS. Neither the HELOC Subservicer nor any of the directors or officers or
employees or agents of the HELOC Subservicer shall be under any liability to the
HELOC Master Servicer for any action taken or for refraining from the taking of
any action in good faith pursuant to this HELOC Subservicing Agreement,
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that this provision shall not protect the HELOC Subservicer
or any such Person against any liability which would otherwise be imposed by
reason of its willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the
performance of its duties hereunder or by reason of its reckless disregard of
its obligations and duties hereunder. The HELOC Subservicer and any director or
officer or employee or agent of the HELOC Subservicer may rely in good faith on
any document of any kind PRIMA FACIE properly executed and submitted by any
Person respecting any matters arising hereunder. The HELOC Subservicer shall not
be under any obligation to appear in, prosecute or defend any legal action which
is not incidental to its duties to service the HELOC Mortgage Loans in
accordance with this HELOC Subservicing Agreement, and which in its opinion
23
may involve it in any expense or liability; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the HELOC
Subservicer may in its sole discretion undertake any such action which it may
deem necessary or desirable in respect of this HELOC Subservicing Agreement, and
the rights and duties of the parties hereto and the interests of the
Securityholders hereunder. The HELOC Subservicer's right to indemnity or
reimbursement pursuant to this Section 5.03 shall survive any resignation or
termination of the HELOC Subservicer pursuant to Sections 5.04 or 6.01 with
respect to any losses, expenses, costs or liabilities arising prior to such
resignation or termination (or arising from events that occurred prior to such
resignation or termination).
Section 5.04 HELOC SUBSERVICER NOT TO RESIGN. Subject to the provisions
of Section 5.02, the HELOC Subservicer shall not resign from the obligations and
duties hereby imposed on it except (i) upon determination that the performance
of its obligations or duties hereunder are no longer permissible under
applicable law (any such determination permitting the resignation of the HELOC
Subservicer shall be evidenced by an Opinion of Counsel to such effect delivered
to the HELOC Master Servicer) or (ii) upon satisfaction of the following
conditions: the HELOC Subservicer has proposed a successor servicer to the HELOC
Master Servicer in writing and such proposed successor servicer is reasonably
acceptable to the HELOC Master Servicer; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that no such
resignation by the HELOC Subservicer shall become effective until such successor
servicer shall have assumed the HELOC Subservicer's responsibilities and
obligations hereunder or another successor HELOC Subservicer has been appointed
in accordance with Section 6.02 and has accepted such appointment. Any such
resignation shall not relieve the HELOC Subservicer of responsibility for any of
the obligations specified in Sections 6.01 and 6.02 as obligations that survive
the resignation or termination of the HELOC Subservicer. The HELOC Subservicer
shall have no claim (whether by subrogation or otherwise) or other action
against any Noteholder for any amounts paid by the HELOC Subservicer pursuant to
any provision of this HELOC Subservicing Agreement.
Section 5.05 DELEGATION OF DUTIES. In the ordinary course of business,
the HELOC Subservicer at any time may delegate any of its duties hereunder to
any Person, including any of its Affiliates, who agrees to conduct such duties
in accordance with standards comparable to those with which the HELOC
Subservicer complies pursuant to Section 3.01. Such delegation shall not relieve
the HELOC Subservicer of its liabilities and responsibilities with respect to
such duties and shall not constitute a resignation within the meaning of Section
5.04.
Section 5.06 INDEMNIFICATION. (a) The HELOC Subservicer agrees to
indemnify the HELOC Master Servicer for and to hold the HELOC Master Servicer
harmless against, any claim, tax, penalty, loss, liability or expense of any
kind whatsoever, incurred without negligence or willful misconduct on its part,
arising out of, or in connection with, the failure by the HELOC Subservicer to
perform its duties in compliance with this HELOC Subservicing Agreement. In
addition to the indemnification set forth in the previous sentence, the HELOC
Subservicer shall indemnify and hold the HELOC Master Servicer harmless from and
against any and all claims, losses, damages, penalties, fines, forfeitures,
legal fees and related costs, judgments, and any other costs, fees and expenses
resulting from or related to any act or omission to act of any prior servicer,
owner or originator of a HELOC Mortgage Loan or Mortgaged Property (or any other
Person) prior to the transfer of servicing to the HELOC Master Servicer in
accordance with Section 6.02 hereunder, provided that:
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(i) with respect to any such claim, the HELOC Master
Servicer shall have given the HELOC Subservicer written notice thereof
promptly after the HELOC Master Servicer shall have actual knowledge
thereof, it being understood that failure to give such notice shall not
relieve the HELOC Subservicer of its indemnification obligations
hereunder;
(ii) while maintaining control over its own defense, the
HELOC Master Servicer shall cooperate and consult fully with the HELOC
Subservicer in preparing such defense; and
(iii) notwithstanding anything in this HELOC Subservicing
Agreement to the contrary, the HELOC Subservicer shall not be liable
for settlement of any claim by the HELOC Master Servicer entered into
without the prior consent of the HELOC Subservicer, which consent shall
not be unreasonably withheld.
(b) No termination of this HELOC Subservicing Agreement or the
resignation or removal of the HELOC Master Servicer shall affect the obligations
created by this Section 5.06 of the HELOC Subservicer to indemnify the HELOC
Master Servicer under the conditions and to the extent set forth herein. This
section shall survive the termination of this HELOC Subservicing Agreement and
the resignation or removal of the HELOC Subservicer. Any amounts to be paid by
the HELOC Subservicer pursuant to this Subsection may not be paid from the Trust
Estate.
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ARTICLE VI
Default
Section 6.01 SERVICING DEFAULT. If any one of the following events
(each, a "Servicing Default") shall occur and be continuing:
(i) Any failure by the HELOC Subservicer to deposit in
the Collection Account or Payment Account any deposit required to be
made under the terms of this HELOC Subservicing Agreement which
continues unremedied for a period of one (1) Business Day after the
date upon which written notice of such failure shall have been given to
the HELOC Subservicer by the HELOC Master Servicer; or
(ii) Failure on the part of the HELOC Subservicer duly to
observe or perform in any material respect any representation or
warranty of the HELOC Subservicer or any other covenants or agreements
of the HELOC Subservicer (including the making of Servicing Advances)
set forth in this HELOC Subservicing Agreement, which failure, in each
case, materially and adversely affects the interests of the Class VII-A
Noteholders and which continues unremedied for a period of 30 days
after the date on which written notice of such failure, requiring the
same to be remedied, and stating that such notice is a "Notice of
Default" hereunder, shall have been given to the HELOC Subservicer by
the HELOC Master Servicer; or
(iii) The entry against the HELOC Subservicer of a decree
or order by a court or agency or supervisory authority having
jurisdiction in the premises for the appointment of a trustee,
conservator, receiver or liquidator in any insolvency, conservatorship,
receivership, readjustment of debt, marshaling of assets and
liabilities or similar proceedings, or for the winding up or
liquidation of its affairs, and the continuance of any such decree or
order unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days; or
(iv) The HELOC Subservicer shall voluntarily go into
liquidation, consent to the appointment of a conservator, receiver,
liquidator or similar person in any insolvency, readjustment of debt,
marshaling of assets and liabilities or similar proceedings of or
relating to the HELOC Subservicer or of or relating to all or
substantially all of its property, or a decree or order of a court,
agency or supervisory authority having jurisdiction in the premises for
the appointment of a conservator, receiver, liquidator or similar
person in any insolvency, readjustment of debt, marshaling of assets
and liabilities or similar proceedings, or for the winding-up or
liquidation of its affairs, shall have been entered against the HELOC
Subservicer and such decree or order shall have remained in force
undischarged, unbonded or unstayed for a period of 60 days; or the
HELOC Subservicer shall admit in writing its inability to pay its debts
generally as they become due, file a petition to take advantage of any
applicable insolvency or reorganization statute, make an assignment for
the benefit of its creditors or voluntarily suspend payment of its
obligations;
26
then, and in every such case, so long as a Servicing Default shall not have been
remedied by the HELOC Subservicer, the HELOC Master Servicer may, by notice then
given to the HELOC Subservicer, terminate all of the rights and obligations of
the HELOC Subservicer as servicer under this HELOC Subservicing Agreement other
than its right to receive servicing compensation and expenses for servicing the
HELOC Mortgage Loans hereunder during any period prior to the date of such
termination and the HELOC Master Servicer may exercise any and all other
remedies available at law or equity. Any such notice to the HELOC Subservicer
shall also be given to each Rating Agency, the Company and the Issuer. On or
after the receipt by the HELOC Subservicer of such written notice, all authority
and power of the HELOC Subservicer under this HELOC Subservicing Agreement,
whether with respect to the Class VII-A Notes or the HELOC Mortgage Loans or
otherwise, shall pass to and be vested in the HELOC Master Servicer, pursuant to
and under this Section 6.01; and, without limitation, the HELOC Master Servicer
is hereby authorized and empowered to execute and deliver, on behalf of the
HELOC Subservicer, as attorney-in-fact or otherwise, any and all documents and
other instruments, and to do or accomplish all other acts or things necessary or
appropriate to effect the purposes of such notice of termination, whether to
complete the transfer and endorsement of each HELOC Mortgage Loan and related
documents, or otherwise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the parties hereto and
the Securityholders by their acceptance of any Security, acknowledge and agree
that there will be a period of transition before the actual servicing functions
can be fully transferred to the HELOC Master Servicer, as successor HELOC
Subservicer, or to a successor HELOC Subservicer appointed by the HELOC Master
Servicer pursuant to the provisions hereof, provided, that the HELOC Master
Servicer shall use its reasonable best efforts to succeed to the actual
servicing functions or find a successor HELOC Subservicer as soon as possible
but no later than 90 days after such termination. The HELOC Subservicer agrees
to cooperate with the HELOC Master Servicer in effecting the termination of the
responsibilities and rights of the HELOC Subservicer hereunder, including,
without limitation, the transfer to the HELOC Master Servicer or the successor
HELOC Subservicer for administration by it of (i) the property and amounts which
are then or should be part of the Trust Estate or which thereafter become part
of the Trust Estate; (ii) originals or copies of all documents of the HELOC
Subservicer reasonably requested by the HELOC Master Servicer to enable it to
assume the HELOC Subservicer's duties thereunder and under the Subservicing
Agreements; (iii) the rights and obligations of the HELOC Subservicer under the
Subservicing Agreements with respect to the HELOC Mortgage Loans; (iv) all cash
amounts which shall at the time be deposited by the HELOC Subservicer or should
have been deposited to the Collection Account, the related Servicing Accounts or
the Payment Account or thereafter be received with respect to the HELOC Mortgage
Loans; and (v) all costs or expenses associated with the complete transfer of
all servicing data and the completion, correction or manipulation of such
servicing data as may be required by the HELOC Master Servicer or any successor
HELOC Subservicer to correct any errors or insufficiencies in the servicing data
or otherwise to enable the HELOC Master Servicer or successor HELOC Subservicer
to service the HELOC Mortgage Loans properly and effectively. All reasonable
costs and expenses (including, but not limited to, attorneys' fees and
disbursements) incurred by the HELOC Master Servicer or a successor HELOC
Subservicer in connection with its succession as HELOC Subservicer, including
amending this HELOC Subservicing Agreement to reflect such succession as HELOC
Subservicer pursuant to this Section 6.01 shall be paid by the predecessor HELOC
Subservicer (or if the predecessor HELOC Subservicer is the HELOC Master
Servicer, the initial HELOC Subservicer) upon presentation of reasonable
documentation of such costs and expenses.
27
Notwithstanding any termination of the activities of the HELOC
Subservicer hereunder, the HELOC Subservicer shall be entitled to receive, out
of any late collection of a payment on a HELOC Mortgage Loan which was due prior
to the notice terminating the HELOC Subservicer's rights and obligations
hereunder and received after such notice, that portion to which the HELOC
Subservicer would have been entitled pursuant to Sections 3.07 and 3.15 as well
as its HELOC Subservicing Fee in respect thereof, and any other amounts payable
to the HELOC Subservicer hereunder the entitlement to which arose prior to the
termination of its activities hereunder.
The HELOC Subservicer shall immediately notify the HELOC Master
Servicer in writing of any Servicing Default.
In addition, upon the occurrence of any Servicer Termination Event and
upon the direction of the Insurer in connection therewith, the HELOC Master
Servicer shall terminate the rights and responsibilities of the HELOC
Subservicer hereunder and shall appoint a successor HELOC Subservicer in
accordance with the provisions of Section 6.02.
Section 6.02 HELOC MASTER SERVICER TO ACT; APPOINTMENT OF SUCCESSOR.
(a) Within 90 days of the time the HELOC Subservicer sends a notice pursuant to
clause (i) of Section 5.04, the HELOC Master Servicer, or other successor
appointed in accordance with this Section 6.02, shall be the successor in all
respects to the HELOC Subservicer in its capacity as HELOC Subservicer under
this HELOC Subservicing Agreement and the transactions set forth or provided for
herein and shall be subject to all the responsibilities, duties and liabilities
relating thereto placed on the HELOC Subservicer by the terms and provisions
hereof, including but not limited to the provisions of Article V. Nothing in
this HELOC Subservicing Agreement shall be construed to permit or require the
HELOC Master Servicer or any other successor HELOC Subservicer to (i) be
responsible or accountable for any act or omission of the predecessor HELOC
Subservicer, (ii) require or obligate the HELOC Master Servicer, in its capacity
as successor HELOC Subservicer, to purchase, repurchase or substitute any HELOC
Mortgage Loan, (iii) fund any losses on any Eligible Investment directed by any
other HELOC Subservicer, or (iv) be responsible for the representations and
warranties of the HELOC Subservicer, except as provided herein. As compensation
therefor, the HELOC Master Servicer shall be entitled to such compensation as
the HELOC Subservicer would have been entitled to hereunder if no such notice of
termination had been given. Notwithstanding the above, (i) if the HELOC Master
Servicer is unwilling to act as successor HELOC Subservicer, or (ii) if the
HELOC Master Servicer is legally unable so to act, the HELOC Master Servicer may
(in the situation described in clause (i)) or shall (in the situation described
in clause (ii)) appoint or petition a court of competent jurisdiction to appoint
any established housing and home finance institution, bank or other mortgage
loan servicer having a net worth of not less than $10,000,000 as the successor
to the HELOC Subservicer hereunder in the assumption of all or any part of the
responsibilities, duties or liabilities of the HELOC Subservicer hereunder;
provided that the appointment of any such successor HELOC Subservicer will not
result in the qualification, reduction or withdrawal of the ratings assigned to
the Class VII-A Notes by the Rating Agencies (as evidenced by a letter to such
effect delivered by the Rating Agencies). Pending appointment of a successor to
the HELOC Subservicer hereunder, unless the HELOC Master Servicer is prohibited
by law from so acting or is unwilling to act as such, the HELOC Master Servicer
shall act in such capacity as hereinabove provided. In connection with such
appointment and assumption, the successor shall be entitled to receive
compensation out of payments on HELOC Mortgage Loans in an amount equal
28
to the compensation which the HELOC Subservicer would otherwise have received
pursuant to Section 3.15 (or such lesser compensation as the HELOC Master
Servicer and such successor shall agree). The appointment of a successor HELOC
Subservicer shall not affect any liability of the predecessor HELOC Subservicer
which may have arisen under this HELOC Subservicing Agreement prior to its
termination as HELOC Subservicer (including, without limitation, the obligation
to pay any deductible under an insurance policy pursuant to Section 3.11 or to
indemnify the HELOC Master Servicer pursuant to Section 5.06), nor shall any
successor HELOC Subservicer be liable for any acts or omissions of the
predecessor HELOC Subservicer or for any breach by such HELOC Subservicer of any
of its representations or warranties contained herein or in any related document
or agreement. The HELOC Master Servicer and such successor shall take such
action, consistent with this HELOC Subservicing Agreement, as shall be necessary
to effectuate any such succession.
In connection with the termination or resignation of the HELOC
Subservicer hereunder, either (i) the successor HELOC Subservicer, including the
HELOC Master Servicer if the HELOC Master Servicer is acting as successor HELOC
Subservicer, shall represent and warrant that it is a member of MERS in good
standing and shall agree to comply in all material respects with the rules and
procedures of MERS in connection with the servicing of the HELOC Mortgage Loans
that are registered with MERS, in which case the predecessor HELOC Subservicer
shall cooperate with the successor HELOC Subservicer in causing MERS to revise
its records to reflect the transfer of servicing to the successor HELOC
Subservicer as necessary under MERS' rules and regulations, or (ii) the
predecessor HELOC Subservicer shall cooperate with the successor HELOC
Subservicer in causing MERS to execute and deliver an assignment of Mortgage in
recordable form to transfer the Mortgage from MERS to the Indenture Trustee and
to execute and deliver such other notices, documents and other instruments as
may be necessary or desirable to effect a transfer of such HELOC Mortgage Loan
or servicing of such HELOC Mortgage Loan on the MERS(R) System to the successor
HELOC Subservicer. The predecessor HELOC Subservicer shall file or cause to be
filed any such assignment in the appropriate recording office. The predecessor
HELOC Subservicer shall bear any and all fees of MERS, costs of preparing any
assignments of Mortgage, and fees and costs of filing any assignments of
Mortgage that may be required under this Section 6.02. To the extent these fees
and costs are not paid by the HELOC Subservicer and are incurred by any
successor HELOC Subservicer, such fees and costs will be reimbursable to the
successor HELOC Subservicer by the Trust. The successor HELOC Subservicer shall
cause such assignment to be delivered to the HELOC Master Servicer promptly upon
receipt of the original with evidence of recording thereon or a copy certified
by the public recording office in which such assignment was recorded.
(b) Any successor, including the HELOC Master Servicer, to the
HELOC Subservicer as servicer shall during the term of its service as servicer
(i) continue to service and administer the HELOC Mortgage Loans for the benefit
of the Securityholders, (ii) maintain in force a policy or policies of insurance
covering errors and omissions in the performance of its obligations as HELOC
Subservicer hereunder and a fidelity bond in respect of its officers, employees
and agents to the same extent as the HELOC Subservicer is so required pursuant
to Section 3.11(g).
(c) Any successor HELOC Subservicer, including the HELOC Master
Servicer, shall not be deemed to be in default or to have breached its duties
hereunder if the predecessor HELOC Subservicer shall fail to deliver any
required deposit to the Collection Account or a Servicing Account or otherwise
cooperate with any required servicing transfer or succession hereunder.
29
(d) Notwithstanding anything else herein to the contrary, in no
event shall the HELOC Master Servicer be liable for any servicing fee or any
differential in the amount of the servicing fee paid hereunder and the amount
necessary to induce any successor HELOC Subservicer to act as a successor HELOC
Subservicer under this HELOC Subservicing Agreement and the transactions set
forth or provided for herein.
Section 6.03 RESERVED.
Section 6.04 WAIVER OF DEFAULTS. The HELOC Master Servicer may waive
any default by the HELOC Subservicer in the performance of its obligations
hereunder and the consequences thereof, except a default in the making of or the
causing to be made any required distribution. Upon any such waiver of a past
default, such default shall be deemed to cease to exist, and any Servicing
Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been timely remedied for every
purpose of this HELOC Subservicing Agreement. No such waiver shall extend to any
subsequent or other default or impair any right consequent thereon except to the
extent expressly so waived.
30
ARTICLE VII
Miscellaneous Provisions
Section 7.01 AMENDMENT. This HELOC Subservicing Agreement may be
amended from time to time by the parties hereto, provided that any amendment be
accompanied by a letter from the Rating Agencies that the amendment will not
result in the downgrading, qualification or withdrawal of the rating then
assigned to the Class VII-A Notes.
Section 7.02 GOVERNING LAW. THIS HELOC SUBSERVICING AGREEMENT SHALL BE
CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT
REFERENCE TO ITS CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISIONS, AND THE OBLIGATIONS, RIGHTS AND
REMEDIES OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE DETERMINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUCH
LAWS.
Section 7.03 NOTICES. All demands, notices and communications hereunder
shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if when
delivered to:
(a) in the case of the HELOC Master Servicer:
GMAC Mortgage Corporation
000 Xxxxxx Xx.
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: General Counsel
Telecopier No.: 215.682.1467
(b) in the case of the HELOC Subservicer:
American Home Mortgage Servicing, Inc.
0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
(c) in the case of Rating Agencies:
Standard & Poor's, a division
of The XxXxxx-Xxxx Companies, Inc.
00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx - 41st Floor
New York, New York 10041
Attention: Asset Backed
Surveillance Group
Xxxxx'x Investors Service, Inc.
00 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention:
(d) in the case of the Owner Trustee, the Corporate Trust Office:
Wilmington Trust Company
Xxxxxx Square North
0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
31
Attention: Corporate Trust
Administration
(e) in the case of the Issuer, to American Home Mortgage
Investment Trust 2004-4:
c/o American Home Mortgage
Securities LLC
000 Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: General Counsel
(f) in the case of the Indenture Trustee:
its Corporate Trust Office
(g) in the case of the Insurer,
MBIA Insurance Corporation
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Insured Portfolio
Management-Structured Finance (IPM-SF)
(American Home Mortgage Investment
Trust 2004-4)
or, as to each party, at such other address as shall be designated by such party
in a written notice to each other party. Any notice required or permitted to be
mailed to a Noteholder shall be given by first class mail, postage prepaid, at
the address of such Noteholder as shown in the Note Register. Any notice so
mailed within the time prescribed in this HELOC Subservicing Agreement shall be
conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the Noteholder
receives such notice. Any notice or other document required to be delivered or
mailed by the HELOC Master Servicer to the Rating Agencies shall be given on a
reasonable efforts basis and only as a matter of courtesy and accommodation and
the HELOC Master Servicer shall have no liability for failure to deliver such
notice or document to the Rating Agencies.
The HELOC Subservicer shall designate a Person who shall be available
to the Insurer to provide reasonable access to information regarding the HELOC
Mortgage Loans.
(a) SEVERABILITY OF PROVISIONS. If any one or more of the
covenants, agreements, provisions or terms of this HELOC
Subservicing Agreement shall be for any reason whatsoever held
invalid, then such covenants, agreements, provisions or terms
shall be deemed severable from the remaining covenants,
agreements, provisions or terms of this HELOC Subservicing
Agreement and shall in no way affect the validity or
enforceability of the other provisions of this HELOC
Subservicing Agreement or of the Class VII-A Notes or the
rights of the Class VII-A Noteholders thereof.
(b) THIRD-PARTY BENEFICIARIES. This HELOC Subservicing Agreement
will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties
hereto, the Class VII-A Noteholders, the Issuer, the Insurer,
the Owner Trustee, the Indenture Trustee and their respective
successors and permitted assigns. Except as otherwise provided
in this HELOC Subservicing Agreement, no other Person will
have any right or obligation hereunder.
32
(c) COUNTERPARTS. This instrument may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be
an original, but all such counterparts shall together
constitute but one and the same instrument.
(d) EFFECT OF HEADINGS AND TABLE OF CONTENTS. The Article and
Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for
convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.
(e) TERMINATION. The respective obligations and responsibilities
of the HELOC Subservicer and the HELOC Master Servicer created
hereby shall terminate upon the satisfaction and discharge of
the Indenture pursuant to Section 4.10 thereof.
(f) NO PETITION. The HELOC Subservicer, by entering into this
HELOC Subservicing Agreement, hereby covenants and agrees that
it will not at any time institute against the Issuer, or join
in any institution against the Issuer, any bankruptcy
proceedings under any United States federal or state
bankruptcy or similar law in connection with any obligations
of the Issuer. This section shall survive the satisfaction and
discharge of the Indenture by one year.
(g) NO RECOURSE. The HELOC Subservicer acknowledges that no
recourse may be had against the Issuer, except as may be
expressly set forth in this HELOC Subservicing Agreement.
33
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the HELOC Master Servicer and the HELOC Subservicer
have caused this HELOC Subservicing Agreement to be duly executed by their
respective officers or representatives all as of the day and year first above
written.
GMAC MORTGAGE CORPORATION
as HELOC Master Servicer
By:______________________
Name:
Title:
AMERICAN HOME MORTGAGE
SERVICING, INC.
as HELOC SUBSERVICER
By:______________________
Name:
Title:
EXHIBIT A
HELOC MORTGAGE LOAN SCHEDULE
(Filed Manually)
A-1
EXHIBIT B
FORM OF REQUEST FOR RELEASE
DATE:
TO:
RE: REQUEST FOR RELEASE OF DOCUMENTS
In connection with your administration of the HELOC Mortgage Loans, we request
the release of the Mortgage File described below.
HELOC Subservicing Agreement ("HELOC Subservicing Agreement") Dated:
Series #:
Account #:
Pool #:
Loan #:
Borrower Name(s):
Reason for Document Request: (circle one) Mortgage Loan Prepaid in Full
Other
Mortgage Loan Repurchased
Please deliver the Mortgage File to_____________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
"We hereby certify that all amounts received or to be received in connection
with such payments which are required to be deposited have been deposited in the
Payment Account as provided in the HELOC Subservicing Agreement."
__________________
[Name of HELOC Subservicer]
Authorized Signature
******************************************************************************
TO CUSTODIAN: Please acknowledge this request, and check off documents being
enclosed with a copy of this form. You should retain this form for your files in
accordance with the terms of the HELOC Subservicing Agreement.
Enclosed Documents: [ ] Promissory Note
[ ] Mortgage or Deed of Trust
[ ] Assignment(s) of Mortgage
or Deed of Trust
[ ] Title Insurance Policy
_______________________ [ ] Other:
Name
_______________________
Title
_______________________
Date
B-1
EXHIBIT C-1
FORM OF CERTIFICATION TO BE PROVIDED BY THE HELOC SUBSERVICER
Re: American Home Mortgage Investment Trust 2004-4
Mortgage-Backed Notes, Series 2004-4
I, [identify the certifying individual], certify that:
l. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K, and
all reports on Form 8-K containing distribution or servicing reports filed in
respect of periods included in the year covered by this annual report, of
American Home Mortgage Securities LLC (the "Registrant");
2. Based on my knowledge, the information in these
reports, taken as a whole, does not contain any untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in
light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading
as of the last day of the period covered by this annual report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the servicing information
required to be provided to the HELOC Master Servicer by the HELOC Subservicer
under the HELOC Subservicing Agreement is included in these reports;
4. I am responsible for reviewing the activities
performed by the HELOC Subservicer under the HELOC Subservicing Agreement and
based upon the review required under the HELOC Subservicing Agreement, and
except as disclosed in the report, the HELOC Subservicer has fulfilled its
obligations under the HELOC Subservicing Agreement; and
5. I have disclosed to the Registrant's certified public
accounts all significant deficiencies relating to the HELOC Subservicer's
compliance with the minimum servicing standards in accordance with a review
conducted in compliance with the Uniform Single Attestation Program for Mortgage
Bankers or similar standard as set forth in the HELOC Subservicing Agreement.
Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the
meanings ascribed to them in Appendix A to the Indenture, dated as of December
21, 2004, between American Home Mortgage Investment Trust 2004-4, as issuer, and
The Bank of New York, as indenture trustee.
AMERICAN HOME MORTGAGE SERVICING, INC.
By:____________________________
Name:
Title:
Date:
C-1-1
EXHIBIT C-2
RESERVED
C-2-1
