Exhibit 99.2
EXECUTION COPY
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MASTER SERVICING AGREEMENT
among
SIGNET STUDENT LOAN TRUST 1996-A,
as Issuer,
SIGNET BANK,
as Master Servicer,
and
THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO,
not in its individual capacity but solely
as Eligible Lender Trustee,
Dated as of November 1, 1996
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MASTER SERVICING AGREEMENT dated as of
November 1, 1996, among SIGNET STUDENT LOAN TRUST
1996-A, a Delaware trust (the "Issuer"), SIGNET BANK,
a Virginia banking corporation, as master servicer
(the "Master Servicer"), and THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK
OF CHICAGO, a national banking association, solely as
eligible lender trustee and not in its individual
capacity (the "Eligible Lender Trustee").
WHEREAS the Issuer desires to purchase from the Master
Servicer acting in its capacity as Seller a portfolio of federally reinsured
student loans originated or acquired in the ordinary course of business by the
Seller;
WHEREAS the Eligible Lender Trustee is willing to hold legal
title to, and serve as eligible lender trustee with respect to such student
loans on behalf of the Issuer; and
WHEREAS the Master Servicer is willing to service such student
loans and undertake certain administrative functions with respect thereto.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the
mutual covenants herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
Definitions and Usage
Capitalized terms used but not defined herein are defined in
Appendix A to the Administration Agreement, dated as of November 1, 1996 (the
"Administration Agreement") among the Issuer, Signet Bank, as Seller and the
Eligible Lender Trustee, which also contains rules as to usage and construction
that shall be applicable herein.
ARTICLE II
Custody of Financed Student Loans
SECTION 2.01. Custody of Student Loan Files. (a) To assure
uniform quality in servicing the Financed Student Loans and to reduce
administrative costs, the Issuer hereby revocably appoints the Master Servicer,
and the Master Servicer hereby accepts such appointment, to act for the benefit
of the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee as Custodian of the following
documents or instruments which are hereby constructively delivered to the
Indenture Trustee, as pledgee of the Issuer (or will be constructively delivered
to the Indenture Trustee, as pledgee of the Issuer in the case of Additional
Student Loans, as of the applicable Transfer Date) with respect to each Financed
Student Loan:
(i) the original fully executed copy of the note evidencing
the Financed Student Loan (including the original loan application
fully executed by the Borrower); and
(ii) any and all other documents and computerized records that
the Master Servicer or any Subservicer shall keep on file, in
accordance with its customary procedures, relating to such Financed
Student Loan or any Obligor with respect thereto.
(b) To assure uniform quality in servicing the Financed
Student Loans and to reduce administrative costs, the Issuer and the Indenture
Trustee acknowledge that, subject to the provisions of Section 3.12, the Master
Servicer may appoint one or more Subservicers to act as a subcustodian (each, a
"Subcustodian") of the Student Loan Files being subserviced by such Subservicer
(the "Related Student Loan Files") pursuant to the terms of a Subservicing
Agreement which satisfies the criteria specified in Section 3.12.
SECTION 2.02. Duties of Master Servicer as Custodian. (a)
Safekeeping. The Master Servicer shall maintain custody, or shall cause one or
more Subcustodians to maintain custody, of the Student Loan Files for the
benefit of the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee and maintain, or cause the
Subcustodians to maintain, such accurate and complete accounts, records and
computer systems pertaining to each Student Loan File as shall enable the Issuer
to comply with the Basic Documents. In performing its duties as custodian the
Master Servicer shall act, and shall cause each Subcustodian to act, with
reasonable care, using that degree of skill and attention that is the customary
and usual standard of practice of prudent student loan servicers with respect to
the student loan files relating to all comparable student loans that the Master
Servicer owns or services or that such Subservicer services, as the case may be,
and shall ensure that it complies, and cause each Subcustodian to comply, with
all applicable Federal and State laws, including the Higher Education Act, with
respect thereto. The Master Servicer shall conduct, or cause to be conducted,
periodic audits of the Student Loan Files and of the related accounts, records
and computer systems, in such a manner as shall enable the Issuer or the
Indenture Trustee to verify the accuracy of the Master Servicer's record
keeping. The Master Servicer shall promptly report to the Issuer and the
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Indenture Trustee any failure to hold the Student Loan Files and maintain its
accounts, records and computer systems as herein provided and promptly take
appropriate action to remedy any such failure. Nothing herein shall be deemed to
require an initial review or any periodic review by the Issuer, the Eligible
Lender Trustee or the Indenture Trustee of the Student Loan Files.
(b) Maintenance of Records. The Master Servicer shall maintain
any Student Loan Files held by it as Custodian at one of the locations specified
in Schedule A to this Agreement, and shall cause each Subcustodian, if any, to
maintain the Related Student Loan Files at the office specified opposite such
Subcustodian's name in Schedule B to this Agreement or at such other office as
shall be specified by written notice to the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee not
later than 90 days after any change in location. Upon reasonable prior notice of
not less than three Business Days, the Master Servicer shall make available to
the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee or their respective duly authorized
representatives, attorneys or auditors a list of locations of the Student Loan
Files and the related accounts, records and computer systems at such times
during normal business hours as the Issuer or Indenture Trustee shall instruct.
(c) Release of Documents. Upon instruction from the Indenture
Trustee, the Master Servicer shall, as soon as practicable, release, or shall
cause to be released, any Student Loan File to the Indenture Trustee, the
Indenture Trustee's agent, or the Indenture Trustee's designee, as the case may
be, at such place or places as the Indenture Trustee may designate.
SECTION 2.03. Instructions; Authority To Act. The Master
Servicer shall be deemed to have received proper instructions with respect to
the Student Loan Files upon its receipt of written instructions signed by a
Responsible Officer of the Indenture Trustee.
SECTION 2.04. Custodian's Indemnification. The Master Servicer
as Custodian shall pay for any actual loss, liability or expense, including
reasonable attorneys' fees, that may be imposed on, incurred by or asserted
against the Issuer, the Eligible Lender Trustee or the Indenture Trustee or any
of their officers, directors, employees and agents as a result of any improper
act or omission in any way relating to the maintenance and custody by the Master
Servicer as Custodian of the Student Loan Files or any Subcustodian as required
by this Agreement where the final determination that any such improper act or
omission by the Master Servicer or any Subcustodian resulted in such loss,
liability or expense is established by a court of law, by an arbitrator, or by
way of settlement agreed to by the Master
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Servicer; provided, however, that the amount of any liability with respect to
any Financed Student Loan shall not exceed the Purchase Amount thereof, plus any
related Interest Subsidy Payments and Special Allowance Payments not received
with respect to such loan; and provided, further, that the Master Servicer shall
not be liable to the Eligible Lender Trustee for any portion of any such amount
resulting from the willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence of the Eligible
Lender Trustee and the Master Servicer shall not be liable to the Indenture
Trustee for any portion of any such amount resulting from the willful
misfeasance, bad faith or negligence of the Indenture Trustee. This provision
shall not be construed to limit the Master Servicer's or any other party's
rights, obligations, liabilities, claims or defenses which arise as a matter of
law or pursuant to any other provision of this Agreement.
SECTION 2.05. Effective Period and Termination. (a) The
appointment of the Master Servicer as Custodian shall become effective as of the
Closing Date and shall continue in full force and effect for so long as the
Custodian shall remain the Master Servicer hereunder. If any Person acting as
Master Servicer shall resign as Master Servicer in accordance with the
provisions of this Agreement or if all the rights and obligations of any Person
acting as Master Servicer shall have been terminated under Section 6.01, the
appointment of such Person as Custodian shall be terminated simultaneously with
the effectiveness of such resignation or termination. As soon as practicable on
or after any resignation or termination of such appointment (and in any event
within (i) 30 Business Days, with respect to the portion of the Student Loan
Files consisting of electronic records and information, and (ii) 90 Business
Days, with respect to the remaining portion of the Student Loan Files, in each
case other than any Student Loan Files held by a Subcustodian), such Person
shall deliver possession of the Student Loan Files to the Indenture Trustee or
the Indenture Trustee's agent at such place or places as the Indenture Trustee
may reasonably designate. The resigning or terminated Master Servicer will
continue to hold the Student Loan Files as agent of the Indenture Trustee until
the Student Loan Files are transferred. The termination of the Master Servicer
as Custodian shall not, absent a breach by a Subcustodian of its Subservicing
Agreement in accordance with the provisions thereof, result in the termination
of any such Subcustodian.
(b) The appointment of a Subcustodian by the Master Servicer
shall become effective as of the date specified in the related Subservicing
Agreement and shall continue in full force and effect with respect to each such
Subcustodian and its Related Student Loan Files for so long as such Subcustodian
is a
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Subservicer of the Student Loans related to such Student Loan Files. As soon as
practicable on or after any termination of the appointment of any Subcustodian
(and in any event within (i) 30 Business Days, with respect to that portion of
the Related Student Loan Files consisting of electronic records and information,
and (ii) 90 Business Days, with respect to the remaining portion of the Related
Student Loan Files), the Master Servicer shall cause such terminated
Subcustodian to deliver the Related Student Loan Files to the Master Servicer at
such place or places as the Master Servicer may reasonably designate.
ARTICLE III
Administration and Servicing of Student Loans
SECTION 3.01. Duties of Master Servicer; Appointment of
Subservicers. The Master Servicer, for the benefit of the Issuer (to the extent
provided herein), shall be responsible for the management, servicing and
administration of the Financed Student Loans and for making collections on the
Financed Student Loans and shall use reasonable care, using that degree of skill
and attention that the Master Servicer exercises with respect to all comparable
Student Loans that it services. The Master Servicer may, at any time, appoint
one or more Subservicers to perform all or a portion of its obligations as
Master Servicer hereunder pursuant to the terms of a Subservicing Agreement
which satisfies the criteria specified in Section 3.12. The Master Servicer
shall cause each Subservicer to manage, service and administer the Financed
Student Loans and make collections on the Financed Student Loans for which such
Subservicer is responsible pursuant to the terms of the applicable Subservicing
Agreement (other than collection of any Interest Subsidy Payments and Special
Allowance Payments, which the Eligible Lender Trustee will perform on behalf of
the Trust) and shall cause each Subservicer to use that degree of skill and
attention that is the customary and usual standard of practice of prudent
student loan servicers with respect to all comparable Student Loans owned or
serviced by such Subservicer. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing
or of any other provision set forth in this Agreement and notwithstanding any
other provision to the contrary set forth herein, the Master Servicer shall be
responsible for the management, servicing, administration and making collections
with respect to the Financed Student Loans (other than collection of any
Interest Subsidy Payments and Special Allowance Payments, which the Eligible
Lender Trustee will perform on behalf of the Trust) in accordance with, and
otherwise in compliance with, all applicable Federal and state laws, including
any applicable standards, guidelines and requirements of the Higher Education
Act and any Guarantee Agreement, the failure to comply with which
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would adversely affect the eligibility of one or more of the Financed Student
Loans for Federal reinsurance or Interest Subsidy Payments, Special Allowance
Payments or Guarantee Payments or would have an adverse effect on the
Certificateholders or the Noteholders. The Master Servicer also hereby
acknowledges that its obligation to service the Financed Student Loans includes
those Additional Student Loans conveyed to the Eligible Lender Trustee on behalf
of the Trust pursuant to Section 2.02 of the Loan Sale Agreement and each
related Transfer Agreement, a copy of which shall be delivered to the Master
Servicer by the Seller promptly upon execution thereof; provided that any
failure by the Seller to so deliver a Transfer Agreement shall not affect the
Master Servicer's obligations hereunder to service all the Financed Student
Loans.
The Master Servicer's duties shall include collection and
posting of all payments, responding to inquiries of borrowers on such Financed
Student Loans, monitoring borrowers' status, making required disclosures to
borrowers, investigating delinquencies, sending payment coupons to borrowers and
otherwise establishing repayment terms, reporting tax information to borrowers,
if applicable, accounting for collections and furnishing monthly and annual
statements with respect thereto to the Administrator. The Master Servicer shall
maintain, and shall cause each Subservicer to maintain, its eligibility as a
third-party servicer under the Higher Education Act. Subject to the provisions
of Section 3.02, the Master Servicer shall follow its customary standards,
policies and procedures in performing its duties as Master Servicer. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Master Servicer is authorized and
empowered to cause the execution and delivery, on behalf of itself, the Issuer,
the Eligible Lender Trustee, the Indenture Trustee, the Certificateholders and
the Noteholders or any of them, instruments of satisfaction or cancellation, or
partial or full release or discharge, and all other comparable instruments, with
respect to such Financed Student Loans; provided, however, that the Master
Servicer agrees that it will not (a) permit any rescission or cancellation of a
Financed Student Loan except as ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction or
governmental authority or as otherwise consented to in writing by the Eligible
Lender Trustee and the Indenture Trustee or (b) reschedule, revise, defer or
otherwise compromise with respect to payments due on any Financed Student Loan
except pursuant to any applicable Deferral or Forbearance periods or otherwise
in accordance with all applicable standards, guidelines and requirements with
respect to the servicing of the Financed Student Loans including Principal
Distribution Adjustments; provided further, however, that the Master Servicer
shall not permit any decrease of the interest rate on, or the principal amount
payable with respect to, any Financed Student Loan, except
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as required by applicable Federal and state laws, including any applicable
standards, guidelines and requirements of the Higher Education Act or pursuant
to Incentive Programs as provided for pursuant to the Administration Agreement.
The Master Servicer, for the benefit of the Issuer and the
Indenture Trustee (to the extent provided herein), shall promptly and routinely
furnish, or shall cause any Subservicer to furnish, the Eligible Lender Trustee
and the Indenture Trustee with copies of all material reports, records, and
other documents and data as required by this Agreement or as may otherwise be
required by the Higher Education Act. All material correspondence received by
the Master Servicer, or any Subservicer relating to individual Student Loans
shall be maintained in hard copy, microcopy or electronic form or in summary
form in an automated history file established by the Master Servicer. The Master
Servicer shall furnish, or shall cause any Subservicer to furnish, in good
condition all forms and supplies as specified in this Agreement and any
Schedules hereto. The Eligible Lender Trustee and the Indenture Trustee may
transmit Financed Student Loan account data to the Master Servicer on these
forms or by any other mutually acceptable means. In performing its duties
hereunder, the Master Servicer will be guided by and comply with the Higher
Education Act and applicable requirements of any Guarantor. The Master Servicer
agrees to produce, or cause any Subservicer to produce, a clear and precise
audit trail for each Financed Student Loan and to comply, or cause any
Subservicer to comply, with such other reporting, servicing, and operating
standards as are contained in this Agreement.
The Eligible Lender Trustee on behalf of the Issuer hereby
grants a power of attorney and all necessary authorization to the Master
Servicer, to maintain, or cause any Subservicer to maintain, any and all
collection procedures with respect to the Financed Student Loans, including
filing, pursuing and recovering claims against the Guarantors for Guarantee
Payments and taking any steps to enforce such Financed Student Loans such as
commencing a legal proceeding to enforce a Financed Student Loan in the name of
the Issuer, the Eligible Lender Trustee, the Indenture Trustee, the
Certificateholders or the Noteholders. The Eligible Lender Trustee or the
Indenture Trustee shall upon the written request of the Master Servicer or the
Administrator furnish the Master Servicer or the Administrator with (or, upon
the written request of the Master Servicer, furnish a Subservicer with) any
other powers of attorney and other documents reasonably necessary or appropriate
to enable the Master Servicer, the Administrator or such Subservicer to carry
out their servicing and administrative duties.
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The Master Servicer may establish the terms of, terminate or change the
terms of any Incentive Program with respect to a Financed Student Loan in
accordance with the terms of such program, provided such termination or change
is not prohibited by the Higher Education Act or other applicable law, upon
notice to the Eligible Lender Trustee and the Indenture Trustee. In the event
that the Seller fails to make an Incentive Deposit with respect to an Incentive
Financed Student Loan as required pursuant to the Loan Sale Agreement, the terms
of each Incentive Program shall be such that the Borrower shall be obligated to
make such payment and such Incentive Program shall terminate as to the related
loan.
SECTION 3.02. Collection of Student Loan Payments. (a) The
Master Servicer shall make, or shall cause any Subservicer to make, all
reasonable efforts (including all efforts that may be specified under the Higher
Education Act or any Guarantee Agreement) to collect all payments called for
under the terms and provisions of the Financed Student Loans as and when the
same shall become due and shall follow such collection procedures as it follows
with respect to all comparable Student Loans that it services or shall cause any
Subservicer to follow such collection procedures as are consistent with the
customary and usual standard of practice of prudent student loan servicers with
respect to comparable student loans. The Master Servicer shall allocate, or
shall cause any Subservicer to allocate, collections with respect to the
Financed Student Loans between principal and interest in accordance with the
terms of each such loan. The Master Servicer may, or may permit any Subservicer,
in its discretion, to waive any late payment charge or any other fees that may
be collected in the ordinary course of servicing a Financed Student Loan.
(b) The Master Servicer shall, or shall cause any Subservicer
to, (i) make reasonable efforts to claim, pursue and collect all Guarantee
Payments from the Guarantors pursuant to the Guarantee Agreements with respect
to any of the Financed Student Loans as and when the same shall become due and
payable, (ii) comply with the Higher Education Act and all other applicable laws
and agreements with respect to claiming, pursuing and collecting such payments
and (iii) follow such practices and procedures as it follows with respect to all
comparable guarantee agreements and student loans that it services. In
connection therewith, the Master Servicer is hereby authorized and empowered to
convey, or to permit any Subservicer to convey, to any Guarantor the note and
the related Student Loan File representing any Financed Student Loan in
connection with submitting a claim to such Guarantor for a Guarantee Payment in
accordance with the terms of the applicable Guarantee Agreement.
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(c) The Eligible Lender Trustee shall, with the assistance of
the Master Servicer as set forth below and on behalf of the Issuer, make
reasonable efforts to claim, pursue and collect all Interest Subsidy Payments
and Special Allowance Payments from the Department with respect to any of the
Financed Student Loans as and when the same shall become due and payable, shall
comply with all applicable laws and agreements with respect to claiming,
pursuing and collecting such payments and shall follow such practices and
procedures as the Master Servicer follows with respect to Student Loans serviced
by it. All amounts so collected by the Eligible Lender Trustee with respect to
Financed Student Loans shall constitute Monthly Available Funds for the
applicable Monthly Collection Period and Available Funds for the applicable
Collection Period, and shall be deposited into the Collection Account in
accordance with Section 4.01. In connection therewith, the Master Servicer shall
prepare and file, or shall cause any Subservicer to prepare and file, with the
Department on a timely basis all claims forms and other documents and filings
necessary or appropriate in connection with the claiming of Interest Subsidy
Payments and Special Allowance Payments on behalf of the Eligible Lender Trustee
and shall otherwise assist the Eligible Lender Trustee in pursuing and
collecting such Interest Subsidy Payments and Special Allowance Payments from
the Department. The Eligible Lender Trustee shall upon the written request of
the Master Servicer furnish the Master Servicer, or any Subservicer, with any
power of attorney and other documents reasonably necessary or appropriate to
enable the Master Servicer, or such Subservicer, to prepare and file such claims
forms and other documents and filings.
(d) The Eligible Lender Trustee will permit trusts, other than
the Trust, established by the Seller to securitize student loans to use the
Department lender identification number applicable to the Trust. In such event,
the Eligible Lender Trustee may claim and collect Interest Subsidy Payments and
Special Allowance Payments with respect to Financed Student Loans in the Trust
and student loans in such other trusts using such common lender identification
number. Notwithstanding anything herein or in the Basic Documents to the
contrary, any amounts assessed against payments (including, but not limited to,
Interest Subsidy Payments and Special Allowance Payments) due from the
Department to any such other trust using such common lender identification
number as a result of amounts (including, but not limited to, any potential
origination fees) owing to the Department from the Trust will be deemed for all
purposes hereof and of the Basic Documents (including for purposes of
determining amounts paid by the Department with respect to the student loans in
the Trust and such other trust) to have been assessed against the Trust and
shall be deducted by the Eligible Lender Trustee or the Master Servicer and paid
to such other trust from any
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collections made by them which would otherwise have been payable to the
Collection Account for the Trust. If so specified in the servicing agreement
applicable to any such other trust, any amounts assessed against payments due
from the Department to the Trust as a result of amounts owing to the Department
from such other trust using such common lender identification number will be
deemed to have been assessed against such other trust and will be deducted by
the Eligible Lender Trustee or the Master Servicer from any collections made by
them which would otherwise be payable to the collection account for such other
trust and paid to the Trust.
SECTION 3.03. Realization upon Student Loans. For the benefit
of the Issuer, the Master Servicer shall use, or shall cause any Subservicer to
use, reasonable efforts consistent with the Master Servicer's or such
Subservicer's servicing practices with respect to all comparable Student Loans
owned or serviced by it, including all efforts that may be specified under the
Higher Education Act or any Guarantee Agreement, in the servicing of any
delinquent Financed Student Loans.
SECTION 3.04. No Impairment. The Master Servicer shall not
impair, nor shall it permit any Subservicer to impair, the rights of the Issuer,
the Eligible Lender Trustee, the Indenture Trustee, the Certificateholders or
the Noteholders in the Financed Student Loans.
SECTION 3.05. Purchase of Student Loans; Reimbursement. Upon
the discovery by the Master Servicer, the Eligible Lender Trustee, the Indenture
Trustee or the Seller of any breach pursuant to Sections 3.01, 3.02, 3.03, 3.04
or 3.12(a) hereof the party discovering the breach shall give prompt written
notice to the others. If the breach is not cured within 120 days after the
Master Servicer becomes aware or receives written notice (whichever is earlier)
of such breach, the Master Servicer shall purchase or arrange for the purchase
of any Financed Student Loan in which the interests of the Noteholders, the
Certificateholders, the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee or the Eligible Lender
Trustee are materially and adversely affected by such breach as of the first day
succeeding the end of such 120-day period that is the last day of a Monthly
Collection Period (it being understood that any such breach that does not affect
any Guarantor's obligation to guarantee payment of such Student Loan will not be
considered to have a material adverse effect for this purpose and it being
further understood that any dispute as to whether a Guarantor's obligation has
been so affected so as to create such a material adverse effect, shall be
resolved, for so long as the Notes are Outstanding, by the Indenture Trustee,
whose determination shall be dispositive, and after the Notes are no longer
Outstanding by the Eligible Lender
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Trustee, whose determination shall then be dispositive). In consideration of the
purchase of any such Student Loan pursuant to this Section 3.05, the Master
Servicer shall remit, in the manner specified in Section 4.01, the Purchase
Amount and the Issuer shall execute such assignments and other documents
reasonably requested by the Master Servicer in order to effect the transfer of
such Student Loan to the Master Servicer or its designee. In addition, if any
such breach by the Master Servicer does not trigger such a purchase obligation
but does result in the refusal by a Guarantor to guarantee all or a portion of
the accrued interest, or the loss (including any obligation of the Issuer to
repay to the Department) of certain Interest Subsidy Payments and Special
Allowance Payments, with respect to a Financed Student Loan, then, unless such
breach, if curable, is cured within 120 days, the Master Servicer shall
reimburse the Issuer by remitting an amount equal to the sum of all such
nonguaranteed interest amounts and such forfeited Interest Subsidy Payments and
Special Allowance Payments in the manner specified in Section 4.01. Subject to
Section 5.02, the exclusive remedy of the Noteholders, the Certificateholders,
the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee, and the Eligible Lender Trustee and the
entire liability of the Master Servicer for such a breach shall be limited to
requiring the Master Servicer to purchase Financed Student Loans or to reimburse
the Issuer as provided above pursuant to this Section 3.05.
SECTION 3.06. Servicing Fee. The Servicing Fee payable to the
Master Servicer for each Interest Payment Date (the "Servicing Fee") shall be
equal to the product of (i) one-twelfth of 1.25% and (ii) the Pool Balance as of
the close of business on the last day of the preceding Monthly Collection
Period. The Servicing Fee (together with any portion of the Servicing Fee that
remains unpaid from prior Interest Payment Dates) will be payable on each
Interest Payment Date and will be paid solely out of Monthly Available Funds in
the case of each Interest Payment Date that is not a Distribution Date (and out
of Available Funds in the case of each Distribution Date) and amounts on deposit
in the Reserve Account on such Interest Payment Date (including each
Distribution Date) as provided in Sections 2(d) and 2(e) of the Administration
Agreement.
SECTION 3.07. Servicer's Report. On or before the twentieth
day of each month (or, if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next
succeeding Business Day), the Master Servicer shall deliver to the Administrator
a servicer's report with respect to the preceding calendar month containing all
information necessary for the Administrator to prepare the Administrator's
Certificate, referred to in Section 2(b)(ii) of the Administration Agreement,
covering such preceding calendar month.
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SECTION 3.08. Annual Statement as to Compliance; Notice of
Default. (a) The Master Servicer shall deliver to the Eligible Lender Trustee
and the Indenture Trustee (with a copy to the Seller), on or before June 30 of
each year beginning June 30, 1998, an Officers' Certificate of the Master
Servicer, stating that (i) a review of the activities of the Master Servicer
during the preceding fiscal year ending December 31 (or, in the case of the
first such certificate, during the period from the Closing Date to December 31,
1997 and of its performance has been made under such officers' supervision and
(ii) to the best of such officers' knowledge, based on such review, the Master
Servicer has fulfilled all its obligations under this Agreement in all material
respects throughout such year (or in the case of the first such Officers'
Certificate, such longer period) or, if there has been a default in the
fulfillment of any such obligation, specifying each such default known to such
officers and the nature and status thereof. The Indenture Trustee shall send a
copy of each such Officers' Certificate and each report referred to in Section
3.09 to the Rating Agencies. A copy of each such Officers' Certificate and each
report referred to in Section 3.09 may be obtained by any Certificateholder,
Certificate Owner, Noteholder or Note Owner by a request in writing to the
Eligible Lender Trustee addressed to its Corporate Trust Office, together with
evidence satisfactory to the Eligible Lender Trustee that such Person is one of
the foregoing parties. Upon the telephone request of the Eligible Lender
Trustee, the Indenture Trustee will promptly furnish the Eligible Lender Trustee
a list of Noteholders as of the date specified by the Eligible Lender Trustee.
(b) The Master Servicer shall deliver to the Eligible Lender
Trustee, the Indenture Trustee, the Seller and the Rating Agencies, promptly
after having obtained knowledge thereof, but in no event later than five
Business Days thereafter, written notice in an Officers' Certificate of the
Master Servicer of any event which with the giving of notice or lapse of time,
or both, would become a Servicer Default under Section 6.01(1) or (2) or would
cause the Master Servicer to fail to meet any Rating Agency Condition.
SECTION 3.09. Annual Independent Certified Public Accountants'
Report. The Master Servicer shall cause a firm of independent certified public
accountants, which may also render other services to the Master Servicer, the
Seller or their Affiliates, to deliver to the Eligible Lender Trustee and the
Indenture Trustee (with a copy to the Seller) within 180 days of the end of the
Master Servicer's regular calendar-year audit period, a report addressed to the
Master Servicer and to the Seller, the Eligible Lender Trustee and the Indenture
Trustee, to the effect that such firm has performed an examination made in
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accordance with the Audit Guide, COMPLIANCE AUDITS (ATTESTATION ENGAGEMENTS) FOR
LENDERS AND LENDER SERVICERS PARTICIPATING IN THE FEDERAL FAMILY EDUCATION LOAN
PROGRAM (Audit Guide), issued by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of
Inspector General, dated October 1996 or as subsequently revised, relating to
the servicing of Student Loans (including the Financed Student Loans under this
Agreement) during the preceding year (or, in the case of the first such report,
during the period from the Closing Date to December 31, 1997) and that, on the
basis of the accounting and auditing procedures performed during the examination
made in accordance with the Audit Guide, such firm will issue an opinion as to
whether management's assertions that the Master Servicer complied with the
compliance requirements as described in the Audit Guide, are fairly stated, in
all material respects, except for (x) such exceptions as such firm shall believe
to be immaterial and (y) such other exceptions as shall be set forth in such
report. The Indenture Trustee shall send a copy of each such report to the
Rating Agencies.
Such report will also indicate that the firm is independent of
the Master Servicer within the meaning of the Code of Professional Ethics of the
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
SECTION 3.10. Access to Certain Documentation and Information
Regarding Financed Student Loans. Upon at least three Business Days' prior
notice, the Master Servicer shall provide the Certificateholders and the
Noteholders access to the Student Loan Files in such cases where the
Certificateholders or the Noteholders shall be required by applicable statutes
or regulations to review such documentation, as demonstrated by evidence
satisfactory to the Master Servicer in its reasonable judgment. Access shall be
afforded without charge, but only upon reasonable request and during the normal
business hours at the respective offices of the Master Servicer, or any
Subservicers, as the case may be, where the Student Loan Files are held. Nothing
in this Section shall affect the obligation of the Master Servicer or any
Subservicer to observe any applicable law prohibiting disclosure of information
regarding the Obligors or the right of the Master Servicer not to disclose any
information relating to the strategic plans or opportunities of its student
lending business and the failure of the Master Servicer or any Subservicer to
provide access to information as a result of such obligation or right shall not
constitute a breach of this Section.
SECTION 3.11. Master Servicer Expenses. The Master Servicer
shall be required to pay all expenses incurred by it in connection with its
activities hereunder, including fees and disbursements of independent
accountants, taxes imposed on the
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Master Servicer, and expenses incurred in connection with distributions and
reports to the Administrator, the Certificateholders or the Noteholders, as the
case may be.
SECTION 3.12. Subservicing Agreements. (a) The Master Servicer
hereby represents and warrants that as of the Closing Date it has not entered
into any Subservicing Agreements relating to the servicing of the Financed
Student Loans and the custody of the Related Financed Student Loan Files.
The Master Servicer hereby covenants that (i) each
Subservicing Agreement into which it shall enter shall satisfy the criteria set
forth in this Section 3.12(a); and (ii) as of the date of its execution, each
such Subservicing Agreement will be enforceable in accordance with its terms,
subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance,
reorganization and similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to
creditors' rights generally and subject to general principles of equity (whether
applied in a proceeding at law or in equity).
Each Subservicing Agreement shall: (i) provide for custodial
and servicing arrangements for the Related Student Loan Files that do not
conflict in any material respect with the custodial and servicing arrangements
contemplated by this Agreement; (ii) provide that such agreement is enforceable
by the Master Servicer and assignable to and enforceable by any successor Master
Servicer; (iii) permit the termination of the servicing activities of the
Subservicer with respect to any Financed Student Loan being serviced by such
Subservicer and permit the release of the Related Student Loan File from the
custody of such Subservicer or any Subcustodian in connection with and
immediately prior to the sale of any such Financed Student Loan by or on behalf
of the Issuer, the Eligible Lender Trustee or the Indenture Trustee; (iv) permit
the Master Servicer to terminate the Subservicing Agreement with respect to the
custody of the Related Student Loan Files and the servicing of the Financed
Student Loans by a Subservicer in the event of a breach of such Subservicing
Agreement by such Subservicer or any Subcustodian; and (v) provide that any
compensation payable to any Subcustodian or Subservicer (including any fees
payable in connection with the release of any Student Loan Files from the
custody of such Subservicer or in connection with the termination of the
servicing activities of such Subservicer with respect to any Financed Student
Loans) shall be payable solely by the Master Servicer. The Master Servicer shall
not consent or agree to or permit any amendment or modification of any
Subservicing Agreement which will in any manner materially adversely affect the
rights or security of the Issuer, the Eligible Lender Trustee, the Indenture
Trustee, the Certificateholders or the
14
Noteholders (it being understood that any amendment or supplement to any such
Subservicing Agreement which would cause such Subservicing Agreement to fail to
satisfy the criteria specified in this Section 3.13(a) will be deemed to have
such a material adverse effect). The Master Servicer shall deliver a copy of
each of the Subservicing Agreements as presently in effect and any amendment or
supplement to any Subservicing Agreement to the Eligible Lender Trustee and each
Rating Agency upon the execution and delivery of same.
(b) The Master Servicer shall terminate all of the rights and
obligations of a Subservicer with respect to all Financed Student Loans being
serviced by such Subservicer in the event of a breach by such Subservicer of a
Subservicing Agreement if the Master Servicer reasonably considers such
termination to be in the best interests of the Certificateholders and
Noteholders. Upon termination or expiration of any Subservicing Agreement, the
Master Servicer shall take all appropriate steps to maintain adequate provisions
for the administration, servicing, custody and collection of the Financed
Student Loans, including without limitation, the appointment of any successor
Subservicer pursuant to the terms of a Subservicing Agreement which satisfies
the criteria set forth in Section 3.13(a). The Master Servicer shall notify the
Eligible Lender Trustee, the Indenture Trustee and each Rating Agency if a
successor Subservicer is appointed and shall furnish to the Eligible Lender
Trustee a copy of any additional Subservicing Agreement or any amendment or
supplement to any Subservicing Agreement in connection herewith.
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of any Subservicing
Agreement or references herein to actions taken or caused to be taken by or
through a Subservicer or otherwise, the Master Servicer shall remain obligated
and liable to the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee for acting as Custodian of
the Student Loan Files and the servicing of the Financed Student Loans in
accordance with this Agreement without diminution of such obligation or
liability by virtue of any such Subservicing Agreement or breach thereof by any
Subservicer, the termination of any such Subservicing Agreement or the inability
of the Master Servicer to cause any such Subservicer to take or refrain from
taking any such action or by virtue of indemnification from the Subservicer, in
each case, to the same extent and under the same terms and conditions as if the
Master Servicer were acting alone as both custodian of the Student Loan Files
and servicer of the Financed Student Loans without the benefit of any
Subservicer. For purposes of this Agreement, the Master Servicer shall be deemed
to have received all amounts received in respect of the Financed Student Loans
by any Subservicer at the time of receipt of such amounts by such Subservicer.
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ARTICLE IV
Deposits into the Collection Account
SECTION 4.01. Deposits into the Collection Account. (a) The
Master Servicer shall deposit, or cause each Subservicer to deposit, into the
Collection Account (in the case of clauses (i) and (ii) within two Business Days
of receipt of freely available funds therefor):
(i) all identifiable payments received by the Master Servicer or
by any Subservicer on the Financed Student Loans, including any
Guarantee Payments with respect to the Financed Student Loans;
(ii) all Liquidation Proceeds on the Financed Student Loans;
(iii) the aggregate Purchase Amounts with respect to Purchased
Student Loans, when such amounts are due, and any reimbursement
payments required to be made by the Master Servicer, each as provided
in Section 3.05 hereof; and
(iv) all other amounts required to be deposited into the Collection
Account by the Master Servicer or any Subservicer pursuant to the terms
hereof.
(b) The Eligible Lender Trustee shall deposit into the
Collection Account within two Business Days of the receipt thereof, the
aggregate amount of Interest Subsidy Payments and Special Allowance Payments by
it with respect to the Financed Student Loans.
(c) The Seller shall deposit into the Collection Account the
aggregate Purchase Amount with respect to Purchased Student Loans and all other
amounts to be paid by the Seller under Section 3.02 and 5.01 of the Loan Sale
Agreement when such amounts are due, as provided in Section 3.03 of the Loan
Sale Agreement.
(d) The Indenture Trustee, at the written direction of the
Administrator, shall withdraw from the Pre-Funding Account and deposit into the
Collection Account on each Determination Date during the Funding Period, an
amount equal to the Capitalized Interest Amount for the preceding Collection
Period, as provided in Section 2(f) of the Administration Agreement.
(e) Notwithstanding subsections (a), (b) or (c) of this
Section 4.01 any deposits required to be made into the
16
Collection Account pursuant thereto shall be made directly to the Administrator
pursuant to the Administrator's instructions if the Administrator has delivered
an Officers' Certificate to the Master Servicer and the Eligible Lender Trustee
certifying that an Administrator Deposit Condition has occurred and has not
subsequently delivered an Officers' Certificate reporting the termination of the
Administrator Deposit Condition.
ARTICLE V
The Master Servicer
SECTION 5.01. Representations of Master Servicer. The Master
Servicer makes the following representations on which the Issuer is deemed to
have relied in acquiring (through the Eligible Lender Trustee) the Financed
Student Loans and appointing the Master Servicer as master servicer hereunder.
The representations speak as of the execution and delivery of this Agreement and
as of the Closing Date in the case of the Initial Financed Student Loans, and
will be deemed to speak as of the applicable Transfer Date, in the case of the
Additional Student Loans, but shall survive the sale, transfer and assignment of
the Financed Student Loans to the Eligible Lender Trustee on behalf of the
Issuer and the pledge thereof to the Indenture Trustee pursuant to the
Indenture.
(a) Organization and Good Standing. The Master Servicer is
duly organized and validly existing as a banking corporation in good
standing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, with the power
and authority to own its properties and to conduct its business as such
properties are currently owned and such business is presently
conducted, and has the legal right to service the Financed Student
Loans.
(b) Due Qualification. The Master Servicer is duly qualified
to do business and has obtained all necessary licenses and approvals in
all jurisdictions in which the ownership or lease of property or the
conduct of its business (including the servicing of the Financed
Student Loans as required by this Agreement) shall require such
qualifications.
(c) Power and Authority of the Master Servicer. The Master
Servicer has the power and authority to execute and deliver this
Agreement and to carry out its terms, and the execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement has been duly authorized by the Master
Servicer by all necessary corporate action.
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(d) Binding Obligation. This Agreement constitutes a legal,
valid and binding obligation of the Master Servicer, enforceable in
accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization and similar laws relating to creditors'
rights generally or the rights of creditors of banks the deposit
accounts of which are insured by the FDIC and subject to general
principles of equity.
(e) No Violation. The consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and the fulfillment of the terms hereof
or thereof do not conflict with, result in any breach of any of the
terms and provisions of, nor constitute (with or without notice or
lapse of time or both) a default under, the certificate of
incorporation or by-laws of the Master Servicer, or any material
indenture, agreement or other instrument to which the Master Servicer
is a party or by which it shall be bound; nor result in the creation or
imposition of any Lien upon any of its properties pursuant to the terms
of any such indenture, agreement or other instrument; nor violate any
law or, to the knowledge of the Master Servicer, any order, rule or
regulation applicable to the Master Servicer of any court or of any
Federal or state regulatory body, administrative agency or other
governmental instrumentality having jurisdiction over the Master
Servicer or its properties. Performance by the Master Servicer of its
servicing duties with respect to the Financed Student Loans, and
compliance by the Master Servicer with the terms of this Agreement,
will not result in the loss of any Guarantee Payments by the Trust or
any reinsurance payments with respect to any Financed Student Loan by
the applicable Guarantor.
(f) No Proceedings. There are no proceedings or investigations
pending against the Master Servicer or, to its best knowledge,
threatened against the Master Servicer, before any court, regulatory
body, administrative agency or other governmental instrumentality
having jurisdiction over the Master Servicer or its properties: (i)
asserting the invalidity of this Agreement or any of the other Basic
Documents to which the Master Servicer is a party, (ii) seeking to
prevent the issuance of the Notes or the Certificates or the
consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
or any of the other Basic Documents, (iii) seeking any determination or
ruling that could reasonably be expected to have a material and adverse
effect on the performance by the Master Servicer of its obligations
under, or the validity or enforceability of, this Agreement, any of the
other Basic Documents, the Notes
18
or the Certificates or (iv) seeking to affect adversely the Federal or
state income tax attributes of the Issuer, the Notes or Certificates.
(g) All Consents. All authorizations, consents, orders or
approvals of or registrations or declarations with any court,
regulatory body, administrative agency or other government
instrumentality required to be obtained, effected or given by the
Master Servicer in connection with the execution and delivery by the
Master Servicer of this Agreement and the performance by the Master
Servicer of its duties contemplated by this Agreement have in each case
been duly obtained, effected or given and are in full force and effect.
(h) Location of Student Loan Files. The Financed Student Loan
Files are kept in the offices specified in Schedule A, or at such other
office specified in accordance with Section 2.02(b).
SECTION 5.02. Indemnities of Master Servicer. The Master
Servicer shall be liable in accordance herewith only to the extent of the
obligations specifically undertaken by the Master Servicer under this Agreement
or which have been delegated to any Subservicer under any Subservicing
Agreement.
The Master Servicer shall pay for any loss, liability or
expense, including reasonable attorney's fees, that may be imposed on, incurred
by or asserted against the Issuer, the Eligible Lender Trustee, the Indenture
Trustee, the Seller, the Administrator, the Certificateholders or the
Noteholders or any of the officers, directors, employees and agents of the
Issuer, the Eligible Lender Trustee, the Indenture Trustee, the Administrator or
the Seller to the extent that such loss, liability or expense arose out of, or
was imposed upon any such Person through, the negligence, willful misfeasance or
bad faith of the Master Servicer in the performance of its obligations and
duties under this Agreement or in the performance of the obligations and duties
of any Subservicer under any Subservicing Agreement or by reason of the reckless
disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement or by reason of the
reckless disregard of the obligations of any Subservicer under any Subservicing
Agreement, where the final determination that any such loss, liability or
expense arose out of, or was imposed upon any such Person through, any such
negligence, willful misfeasance, bad faith or recklessness on the part of the
Master Servicer or any Subservicer is established by a court of law, by an
arbitrator or by way of settlement agreed to by the Master Servicer.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Master Servicer is rendered unable, in
whole or in part, by a force outside the
19
control of the parties hereto (including acts of God, acts of war, fires,
earthquakes and other disasters) to satisfy its obligations under this
Agreement, the Master Servicer shall not be deemed to have breached any such
obligation upon delivery of written notice of such event to the other parties
hereto, for so long as the Master Servicer remains unable to perform such
obligation as a result of such event.
For purposes of this Section, in the event of the termination
of the rights and obligations of Signet as Master Servicer pursuant to Section
6.01, or a resignation by such Master Servicer pursuant to this Agreement, such
Master Servicer shall be deemed to be the Master Servicer pending appointment of
a successor Master Servicer pursuant to Section 6.02.
The Master Servicer shall pay for any loss, liability or
expense, including reasonable attorney's fees, that may be imposed on, incurred
by or asserted against the Issuer, the Eligible Lender Trustee, the Indenture
Trustee, the Seller, the Administrator, the Certificateholders or the
Noteholders or any of the officers, directors, employees and agents of the
Issuer, the Eligible Lender Trustee, the Indenture Trustee, the Administrator or
the Seller to the extent that such loss, liability or expense arose out of, or
was imposed upon any such Person as a result of any compensation payable to any
Subservicer (including any fees payable in connection with the release of any
Student Loan File from the custody of such Subservicer or in connection with the
termination of the servicing activities of such Subservicer with respect to any
Financed Student Loan) whether pursuant to the terms of any Subservicing
Agreement or otherwise.
Liability of the Master Servicer under this Section shall
survive the resignation or removal of the Eligible Lender Trustee or the
Indenture Trustee or the termination of this Agreement and shall include
reasonable fees and expenses of counsel and expenses of litigation. If the
Master Servicer shall have made any indemnity payments pursuant to this
Agreement and the Person to or on behalf of whom such payments are made
thereafter collects any of such amounts from others, such Person shall promptly
repay such amounts to the Master Servicer, without interest.
SECTION 5.03. Merger or Consolidation of, or Assumption of the
Obligations of, Master Servicer. The Master Servicer hereby agrees that, upon
(a) any merger or consolidation of the Master Servicer into another Person, (b)
any merger or consolidation to which the Master Servicer shall be a party
resulting in the creation of another Person, (c) any Person succeeding to the
properties and assets of the Master Servicer
20
substantially as a whole or (d) any other transfer by the Master Servicer to any
Person of the Master Servicer's student lending business substantially as a
whole, the Master Servicer shall (i) cause such Person (if other than the Master
Servicer) to execute an agreement of assumption to perform every obligation of
the Master Servicer hereunder, (ii) deliver to the Eligible Lender Trustee and
Indenture Trustee an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel each
stating that such consolidation, merger, succession or transfer and such
agreement of assumption comply with this Section and that all conditions
precedent provided for in this Agreement relating to such transaction have been
complied with, (iii) cause the Rating Agency Condition to have been satisfied
with respect to such transaction or, in the case of a transfer pursuant to
clause (d) to a Person that is a Non-Code Entity, deliver notice of such
transfer and assumption to each Rating Agency, and (iv) cure any existing
Servicer Default or any continuing event which, after notice or lapse of time or
both, would become a Servicer Default. Upon compliance with the foregoing
requirements, such Person shall be the successor to the Master Servicer under
this Agreement without further act on the part of any of the parties to this
Agreement. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, compliance with
clauses (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) above shall be conditions to the consummation
of any of the transactions referred to in clause (a), (b), (c) or (d) above.
SECTION 5.04. Limitation on Liability of Master Servicer and
Others. Neither the Master Servicer nor any of the directors, officers,
employees or agents of the Master Servicer shall be under any liability to the
Issuer, the Noteholders or the Certificateholders, except as provided under this
Agreement, for any action taken or for refraining from the taking of any action
pursuant to this Agreement or for errors in judgment; provided, however, that
this provision shall not protect the Master Servicer or any such person against
any liability that would otherwise be imposed by reason of willful misfeasance,
bad faith or negligence in the performance of duties or by reason of reckless
disregard of obligations and duties under this Agreement. The Master Servicer
and any director, officer, employee or agent of the 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 under this Agreement.
Except as provided in this Agreement, the Master Servicer
shall not be under any obligation to appear in, prosecute or defend any legal
action that shall not be incidental to its duties to service the Student Loans
in accordance with this Agreement, and that in its opinion may involve it in any
expense or liability; provided, however, that the Master Servicer
21
may undertake any reasonable action that it may deem necessary or desirable in
respect of this Agreement and the other Basic Documents and the rights and
duties of the parties to this Agreement and the other Basic Documents and the
interests of the Certificateholders under this Agreement and the Noteholders
under the Indenture.
SECTION 5.05. Signet Not to Resign as Master Servicer. Subject
to the provisions of Section 5.03, Signet shall not resign from the obligations
and duties hereby imposed on it as Master Servicer under this Agreement except
upon determination that the performance of its duties under this Agreement shall
no longer be permissible under applicable law. Notice of any such determination
permitting the resignation of Signet shall be communicated to the Eligible
Lender Trustee, the Indenture Trustee and the Rating Agencies at the earliest
practicable time (and, if such communication is not in writing, shall be
confirmed in writing at the earliest practicable time) and any such
determination shall be evidenced by an Opinion of Counsel to such effect
delivered to the Eligible Lender Trustee and the Indenture Trustee concurrently
with or promptly after such notice. No such resignation shall become effective
until the Indenture Trustee or a Successor Master Servicer shall have assumed
the responsibilities and obligations of Signet in accordance with Section 6.02.
ARTICLE VI
Default
SECTION 6.01. Servicer Default. If any one of the following
events (a "Servicer Default") shall occur and be continuing:
(a) any failure by the Master Servicer to deliver or cause to
be delivered to the Indenture Trustee for deposit in any of the Trust
Accounts any payment required by the Basic Documents, which failure
continues unremedied for five Business Days after written notice of
such failure is received by the Master Servicer from the Eligible
Lender Trustee, the Indenture Trustee or the Administrator or after
discovery of such failure by an officer of the Master Servicer; or
(b) any failure by the Master Servicer duly to observe or to
perform in any material respect any other covenants or agreements of
the Master Servicer set forth in this Agreement or any other Basic
Document, which failure shall (i) materially and adversely affect the
rights of
22
Noteholders or Certificateholders and (ii) continue unremedied for a
period of sixty (60) days (or for such longer period, not in excess of
120 days, as may be reasonably necessary to remedy such failure, if the
Indenture Trustee and the Eligible Lender Trustee reasonably believe
such failure is susceptible to cure within such longer period) after
the date on which written notice of such failure, requiring the same to
be remedied, shall have been given (A) to the Master Servicer, by the
Indenture Trustee, the Eligible Lender Trustee or (B) to the Master
Servicer, and to the Indenture Trustee, the Administrator and the
Eligible Lender Trustee by Noteholders or Certificateholders, as
applicable, representing not less than 25% of the Outstanding Amount of
the Notes or 25% of the Outstanding Certificate Balance; or
(c) any limitation, suspension or termination by the
Department of the Master Servicer's eligibility to service Student
Loans which materially and adversely affects its ability to service the
Financed Student Loans; or
(d) an Insolvency Event occurs with respect to the Master
Servicer;
then, and in each and every case, so long as the Servicer Default shall not have
been remedied, either the Indenture Trustee or the Noteholders of Notes
evidencing not less than 75% of the Outstanding Amount of the Notes by notice
then given in writing to the Master Servicer (and to the Indenture Trustee and
the Eligible Lender Trustee if given by the Noteholders) may terminate all the
rights and obligations (other than the obligations set forth in Section 5.02) of
the Master Servicer under this Agreement. On or after the receipt by the Master
Servicer of such written notice, all authority and power of the Master Servicer
under this Agreement, whether with respect to the Notes, the Certificates or the
Financed Student Loans or otherwise, shall, without further action, pass to and
be vested in the Indenture Trustee or such successor Master Servicer as may be
appointed under Section 6.02; and, without limitation, the Indenture Trustee and
the Eligible Lender Trustee are hereby authorized and empowered to execute and
deliver, for the benefit of the predecessor 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 the Financed Student Loans and related documents, or otherwise.
The predecessor Master Servicer shall cooperate with the successor Master
Servicer, the Indenture Trustee and the Eligible Lender Trustee in effecting the
termination of the responsibilities and rights
23
of the predecessor Master Servicer under this Agreement, including the transfer
to the successor Master Servicer for administration by it of all cash amounts
that shall at the time be held by the predecessor Master Servicer for deposit,
or shall thereafter be received by it with respect to a Financed Student Loan.
All reasonable costs and expenses (including attorneys' fees) incurred in
connection with transferring the Student Loan Files to the successor Master
Servicer and amending this Agreement and any other Basic Documents to reflect
such succession as Master Servicer pursuant to this Section shall be paid by the
predecessor Master Servicer upon presentation of reasonable documentation of
such costs and expenses. Upon receipt of notice of the occurrence of a Servicer
Default, the Eligible Lender Trustee shall give notice thereof to the Rating
Agencies.
Notwithstanding the termination of the Master Servicer and the
engagement of a successor Master Servicer, each Subservicer shall continue to
serve in its capacity as Subservicer, unless it is in breach of the related
Subservicing Agreement.
SECTION 6.02. Appointment of Successor. (a) Upon receipt by
the Master Servicer of notice of termination pursuant to Section 6.01, or the
resignation by the Master Servicer in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement, the predecessor Master Servicer shall continue to perform its
functions as Master Servicer under this Agreement, in the case of termination,
only until the date specified in such termination notice or, if no such date is
specified in a notice of termination, until receipt of such notice and, in the
case of resignation, until the later of (x) the date 120 days from the delivery
to the Eligible Lender Trustee and the Indenture Trustee of written notice of
such resignation (or written confirmation of such notice) in accordance with the
terms of this Agreement and (y) the date upon which the predecessor Master
Servicer shall become unable to act as Master Servicer as specified in the
notice of resignation and accompanying Opinion of Counsel. In the event of the
termination hereunder of the Master Servicer, the Issuer shall appoint a
successor Master Servicer acceptable to the Indenture Trustee, and the successor
Master Servicer shall accept its appointment by a written assumption in form
acceptable to the Indenture Trustee and the Administrator. In the event that a
successor Master Servicer has not been appointed at the time when the
predecessor Master Servicer has ceased to act as Master Servicer in accordance
with this Section, the Indenture Trustee without further action shall
automatically be appointed the successor Master Servicer and the Indenture
Trustee shall be entitled to the Servicing Fee. Notwithstanding the above, the
Indenture Trustee shall, if it shall be unwilling or legally unable so to
24
act, appoint or petition a court of competent jurisdiction to appoint, any
established institution whose regular business shall include the servicing of
student loans, as the successor to the Master Servicer under this Agreement;
provided, however, that such right to appoint or to petition for the appointment
of any such successor Master Servicer shall in no event relieve the Indenture
Trustee from any obligations otherwise imposed on it under the Basic Documents
until such successor has in fact assumed such appointment.
(b) Upon appointment, the successor Master Servicer (including
the Indenture Trustee acting as successor Master Servicer) shall be the
successor in all respects to the predecessor Master Servicer and shall be
subject to all the responsibilities, duties and liabilities placed on the
predecessor Master Servicer that arise thereafter or are related thereto and
shall be entitled to an amount agreed to by such successor Master Servicer
(which shall not exceed the Servicing Fee, unless such compensation arrangements
will not result in a downgrading of the Notes or the Certificates by any Rating
Agency) and all the rights granted to the predecessor Master Servicer by the
terms and provisions of this Agreement.
(c) The Master Servicer may not resign unless it is prohibited
from serving as such by law as evidenced by an Opinion of Counsel to such effect
delivered to the Indenture Trustee and the Eligible Lender Trustee.
Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary herein or in the other
Basic Documents, the Indenture Trustee, to the extent it is acting as successor
Master Servicer pursuant hereto, shall be entitled to resign to the extent a
qualified successor Master Servicer has been appointed and has assumed all the
obligations of the Master Servicer in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement and the other Basic Documents.
SECTION 6.03. Notification to Noteholders and
Certificateholders. Upon any termination of, or appointment of a successor to,
the Master Servicer pursuant to this Article VI, the Eligible Lender Trustee
shall give prompt written notice thereof to Certificateholders and the Indenture
Trustee shall give prompt written notice thereof to Noteholders, the
Administrator and the Rating Agencies (which, in the case of any such
appointment of a successor, shall consist of prior written notice thereof to the
Rating Agencies).
SECTION 6.04. Waiver of Past Defaults. The Noteholders of
Notes evidencing not less than a majority of the Outstanding Amount of the Notes
(or the Certificateholders of Certificates evidencing not less than a majority
of the Certificate Balance, in the case of any default which does not
25
adversely affect the Indenture Trustee or the Noteholders) may, on behalf of all
Noteholders and Certificateholders, waive in writing any default by the Master
Servicer in the performance of its obligations hereunder, and any consequences
thereof, except a default in making any required deposits to or payments from
any of the Trust Accounts (or giving instructions regarding the same) in
accordance with this Agreement. Upon any such waiver of a past default, such
default shall cease to exist, and any Servicer Default arising therefrom shall
be deemed to have been remedied for every purpose of this Agreement. No such
waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or impair any right
consequent thereto.
ARTICLE VII
Miscellaneous
SECTION 7.01. Amendment. This Agreement may be amended by the
Master Servicer and the Eligible Lender Trustee, with the consent of the
Indenture Trustee, but without the consent of any of the Noteholders or the
Certificateholders, to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any
provisions in this Agreement, for the purpose of adding any provisions to or
changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions in this Agreement or
of modifying in any manner the rights of the Noteholders or the
Certificateholders or in connection with a transaction described in Section 5.03
hereof; provided, however, that such action shall not, as evidenced by an
Opinion of Counsel delivered to the Eligible Lender Trustee and the Indenture
Trustee, adversely affect in any material respect the interests of any
Noteholder or Certificateholder.
This Agreement may also be amended from time to time by the
Master Servicer and the Eligible Lender Trustee, with the consent of the
Indenture Trustee, the consent of the Noteholders of Notes evidencing not less
than a majority of the Outstanding Amount of the Notes and the consent of the
Certificateholders of Certificates evidencing not less than a majority of the
Certificate Balance, for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in
any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Agreement or of
modifying in any manner the rights of the Noteholders or the Certificateholders;
provided, however, that, without the consent of all outstanding Noteholders and
Certificateholders, no such amendment shall (a) increase or reduce in any manner
the amount of, or accelerate or delay the timing of, collections of payments
with respect to Financed Student Loans or distributions that shall be required
to be made for the benefit of the Noteholders or the Certificateholders or (b)
reduce the aforesaid percentage of the Outstanding Amount of
26
the Notes and the Certificate Balance the Noteholders or the Certificateholders
of which are required to consent to any such amendment.
Promptly after the execution of any such amendment or consent
(or, in the case of the Rating Agencies, five Business Days prior thereto), the
Eligible Lender Trustee shall furnish written notification of the substance of
such amendment or consent to each Certificateholder, the Indenture Trustee and
each of the Rating Agencies.
It shall not be necessary for the consent of
Certificateholders or Noteholders pursuant to this Section to approve the
particular form of any proposed amendment or consent, but it shall be sufficient
if such consent shall approve the substance thereof.
Prior to the execution of any amendment to this Agreement, the
Eligible Lender Trustee and the Indenture Trustee shall be entitled to receive
and rely upon an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such amendment
is authorized or permitted by this Agreement and the Opinion of Counsel referred
to in Section 6.02(f) of the Loan Sale Agreement. The Eligible Lender Trustee
and the Indenture Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any
such amendment which affects the Eligible Lender Trustee's or the Indenture
Trustee's, as applicable, own rights, duties or immunities under this Agreement
or otherwise.
SECTION 7.02. Protection of Interests in Trust. (a) The Master
Servicer shall not change its name, identity or corporate structure in any
manner that would, could or might make any financing statement or continuation
statement filed in accordance with Section 6.02(a) of the Loan Sale Agreement
seriously misleading within the meaning of ss.9-402(7) of the UCC, unless it
shall have given the Eligible Lender Trustee, the Indenture Trustee and the
Rating Agencies at least five days' prior written notice thereof and shall have
promptly filed appropriate amendments to all previously filed financing
statements or continuation statements.
(b) The Master Servicer shall have an obligation to give the
Eligible Lender Trustee and the Indenture Trustee at least five (5) days' prior
written notice of any relocation of its principal executive office if, as a
result of such relocation, the applicable provisions of the UCC would require
the filing of any amendment of any previously filed financing or continuation
statement or of any new financing statement and shall promptly file any such
amendment. The Master Servicer shall at all times maintain each office from
which it shall
27
service Financed Student Loans, and its principal executive office, within the
United States of America.
(c) The Master Servicer shall maintain accounts and records of
each Financed Student Loan accurately and in sufficient detail to permit (i) the
reader thereof to know at any time the status of such Financed Student Loan,
including payments and recoveries made and payments owing (and the nature of
each) and (ii) reconciliation between payments or recoveries on (or with respect
to) each Financed Student Loan and the amounts from time to time deposited in
the Collection Account in respect of such Financed Student Loan.
(d) The Master Servicer shall, by use of a distinct
identification code, maintain, and cause each Subservicer to maintain, its
computer systems so that, from and after the time of sale under this Agreement
of the Financed Student Loans, the Master Servicer's, and each Subservicer's
master computer records (including any backup archives) that refer to a Student
Loan shall indicate clearly the interest of the Issuer, the Eligible Lender
Trustee and the Indenture Trustee in such Student Loan and that such Student
Loan is owned by the Eligible Lender Trustee on behalf of the Issuer and has
been pledged to the Indenture Trustee. Indication of the Issuer's, the Eligible
Lender Trustee's and the Indenture Trustee's interest in a Student Loan shall be
deleted from or modified on the Master Servicer's and each Subservicer's
computer systems when, and only when, the related Financed Student Loan shall
have been paid in full or repurchased.
(e) If at any time the Master Servicer shall propose to sell,
grant a security interest in, or otherwise transfer any interest in student
loans to any prospective purchaser, lender or other transferee, the Master
Servicer shall give to such prospective purchaser, lender or other transferee
computer tapes, records or printouts (including any restored from backup
archives) that, if they shall refer in any manner whatsoever to any Financed
Student Loan, shall indicate clearly that such Financed Student Loan has been
sold and is owned by the Eligible Lender Trustee on behalf of the Issuer and has
been pledged to the Indenture Trustee.
(f) The Master Servicer shall permit, and shall cause each
Subservicer to permit, the Indenture Trustee and its agents at any time during
normal business hours to inspect, audit and make copies of and abstracts from
the Master Servicer's, or Subservicer's records regarding any Financed Student
Loan; provided, however, that the Master Servicer or Subservicer is given
reasonable prior notice of at least five Business Days.
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(g) Upon request, at any time the Eligible Lender Trustee or
the Indenture Trustee shall have reasonable grounds to believe that such request
would be necessary in connection with its performance of its duties under the
Basic Documents, the Master Servicer shall furnish to the Eligible Lender
Trustee or to the Indenture Trustee (in each case, with a copy to the
Administrator), within five (5) Business Days, a list of all Financed Student
Loans (by borrower social security number, type of loan and date of issuance)
then held as part of the Trust, and shall cause the Administrator to furnish to
the Eligible Lender Trustee or to the Indenture Trustee, within 20 Business Days
thereafter, a comparison of such list to the list of Initial Financed Student
Loans set forth in Schedule A to the Loan Sale Agreement as of the Closing Date,
and, for each Financed Student Loan that has been added to or removed from the
pool of loans held by the Eligible Lender Trustee on behalf of the Issuer,
information as to the date as of which and circumstances under which each such
Financed Student Loan was so added or removed.
SECTION 7.03. Notices. All demands, notices and communications
upon or to the Seller, the Master Servicer, the Eligible Lender Trustee, the
Indenture Trustee, the Administrator or the Rating Agencies under this Agreement
shall be in writing, personally delivered or mailed by certified mail, return
receipt requested (or in the form of telex or facsimile notice, followed by
written notice delivered as aforesaid), and shall be deemed to have been duly
given upon receipt;
(a) in the case of the Seller, to
Signet Bank
0 Xxxxx 0xx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Treasurer
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Telecopy: (000) 000-0000
(b) in the case of the Master Servicer and the
Administrator, to
Signet Bank
0 Xxxxx 0xx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Treasurer
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Telecopy: (000) 000-0000
(c) in the case of the Issuer, to
Signet Student Loan Trust 1996-A
c/o First Chicago Delaware, Inc., Trustee
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
00
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
with a copy to the Eligible Lender Trustee
at the Corporate Trust Office of the
Eligible Lender Trustee
(d) in the case of the Eligible Lender Trustee, at the
Corporate Trust Office of the Eligible Lender
Trustee;
(e) in the case of the Indenture Trustee, at its
Corporate Trust Office;
(f) in the case of Fitch, to
Fitch Investors Service, L.P.
Xxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Asset Backed Monitoring Unit
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Telecopy : (000) 000-0000;
in the case of Moody's to
Xxxxx'x Investors Service, Inc.
00 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: ABS Monitoring Department
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Telecopy: (000) 000-0000; and
in the case of Standard & Poor's, to
Standard & Poor's Ratings Group
00 Xxxxxxxx
00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Telecopy: (000) 000-0000.
or, as to each of the foregoing, at such other address as shall be designated by
written notice to the other parties.
SECTION 7.04. Assignment. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary contained herein, except as provided in the succeeding sentence, as
provided in Section 5.03 and as provided in the provisions of this Agreement
concerning the resignation of the Master Servicer, this Agreement may not be
assigned by the Master Servicer. This Agreement may only be assigned by the
Eligible Lender Trustee to its permitted successor pursuant to the Trust
Agreement.
30
SECTION 7.05. Limitations on Rights of Others. The
provisions of this Agreement are solely for the benefit of the Master Servicer,
the Issuer and the Eligible Lender Trustee and for the benefit of the
Administrator, the Certificateholders, the Indenture Trustee and the
Noteholders, as third party beneficiaries, and nothing in this Agreement,
whether express or implied, shall be construed to give to any other Person any
legal or equitable right, remedy or claim in the Trust Estate or under or in
respect of this Agreement or any covenants, conditions or provisions contained
herein.
SECTION 7.06. Severability. Any provision of this Agreement
that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such
jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or
unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any
such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or
render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.
SECTION 7.07. Separate Counterparts. This Agreement may be
executed by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so
executed and delivered shall be an original, but all such counterparts shall
together constitute but one and the same instrument.
SECTION 7.08. Headings. The headings of the various Articles
and Sections herein are for convenience of reference only and shall not define
or limit any of the terms or provisions hereof.
SECTION 7.09. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed
in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, without reference
to its conflict of law provisions, and the obligations, rights and remedies of
the parties hereunder shall be determined in accordance with such laws.
SECTION 7.10. Non-Petition Covenants. Notwithstanding any
prior termination of this Agreement, the Master Servicer shall not, prior to the
date which is one year and one day after the termination of this Agreement with
respect to the Issuer or the Company, acquiesce, petition or otherwise invoke or
cause the Issuer to invoke the process of any court or government authority for
the purpose of commencing or sustaining a case against the Issuer under any
Federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law or appointing a receiver,
liquidator, assignee, trustee, custodian, sequestrator or other similar official
of the Issuer or any substantial part of its property, or ordering the winding
up or liquidation of the affairs of the Issuer.
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SECTION 7.11. Limitation of Liability of Eligible Lender
Trustee and Indenture Trustee. (a) Notwithstanding anything contained herein to
the contrary, this Agreement has been signed by The First National Bank of
Chicago not in its individual capacity but solely in its capacity as Eligible
Lender Trustee of the Issuer and in no event shall The First National Bank of
Chicago in its individual capacity or, except as expressly provided in the Trust
Agreement, as beneficial owner of the Issuer have any liability for the
representations, warranties, covenants, agreements or other obligations of the
Issuer hereunder or in any of the certificates, notices or agreements delivered
pursuant hereto as to all of which recourse shall be had solely to the assets of
the Issuer.
(b) Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary,
this Agreement has been accepted by The Bank of New York not in its individual
capacity but solely as Indenture Trustee and in no event shall The Bank of New
York have any liability for the representations, warranties, covenants,
agreements or other obligations of the Issuer hereunder or in any of the
certificates, notices or agreements delivered pursuant hereto, as to all of
which recourse shall be had solely to the assets of the Issuer.
SECTION 7.12. Confidentiality. (a) The Eligible Lender Trustee
and its agents, representatives or employees shall at all times maintain the
confidentiality of all Confidential Information and shall not, without the prior
written consent of the Master Servicer, disclose to third parties (including
Noteholders or Certificateholders) or use such information, in any manner
whatsoever, in whole or in part, except as expressly permitted under this
Agreement or as required to fulfill an obligation of the Eligible Lender Trustee
under this Agreement, in which case such Confidential Information shall be
revealed only to the extent required for the purpose of fulfilling an obligation
of the Eligible Lender Trustee under this Agreement. Notwithstanding the above,
Confidential Information may be disclosed to the extent required by law or legal
process, provided that the Eligible Lender Trustee gives prompt written notice
to the Master Servicer of the nature and scope of such disclosure.
(b) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, the Master Servicer shall not be obligated to disclose to any Person
(i) any information regarding Obligors, the disclosure of which is prohibited by
applicable law, or (ii) any information relating to the strategic plans or
opportunities of its student lending business.
32
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this
Agreement to be duly executed by their respective officers as of the day and
year first above written.
SIGNET STUDENT LOAN TRUST
1996-A,
by THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK
OF CHICAGO not in its
individual capacity but
solely as Eligible Lender
Trustee on behalf of the
Trust,
by /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
----------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Assistant Vice President
SIGNET BANK, as Master
Servicer
by /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
----------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Title: Sr. Vice President
THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF
CHICAGO, not in its individual
capacity but solely as
Eligible Lender Trustee,
by /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
----------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Assistant Vice President
Acknowledged and accepted
as of the day and year first
above written:
THE BANK OF NEW YORK, not in
its individual capacity but
solely as Indenture Trustee
by /s/ Xxxxxx X. Laser
-------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Laser
Title: Assistant Vice President
33
SCHEDULE A
The Master Servicer shall maintain each Student Loan File at one of the
locations listed below:
Signet Bank
0 Xx. Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
SCHEDULE B
Locations of Student Loan Files for which the related Financed Student Loans are
serviced by a Subservicer.
None
