EXECUTION COPY
PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES SECURED FINANCING CORPORATION
HOMEGOLD HOME EQUITY LOAN ASSET BACKED NOTES
SERIES 1999-1
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
May 19, 1999
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES INCORPORATED
One Xxx Xxxx Xxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
May 19, 1999
Dear Sirs:
Prudential Securities Secured Financing Corporation (the
"Depositor") and HomeGold Home Equity Loan Trust 1999-1 (the "Trust") propose,
subject to the terms and conditions stated herein and in the attached
Underwriting Agreement Standard Provisions, dated May 19, 1999 (the "Standard
Provisions"), between the Depositor and Prudential Securities Incorporated, to
issue and sell, or to cause to be issued and sold, to you (the "Underwriter")
the Securities of the Trust specified in Schedule I hereto (the "Offered
Securities"). The Depositor agrees that each of the provisions of the Standard
Provisions is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, and shall be
deemed to be a part of this Agreement to the same extent as if such provisions
had been set forth in full herein; and each of the representations and
warranties set forth therein shall be deemed to have been made at and as of the
date of this Underwriting Agreement. Each reference to the Representative herein
and in the provisions of the Standard Provisions so incorporated by reference
shall be deemed to refer to you. Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined
in the Standard Provisions are used herein as therein defined. The Prospectus
Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus relating to the Offered Securities
(together, the "Prospectus") are incorporated by reference herein.
Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and in
the Standard Provisions incorporated herein by reference, the Depositor and the
Trust agree to issue and sell, or to cause to be issued and sold, to the
Underwriter, and the Underwriter agrees to purchase from the Trust, at the time
and place and at the purchase price to the Underwriter and in the manner set
forth in Schedule I hereto, the entire original principal balance of the Offered
Securities.
It is expressly understood and agreed by the parties hereto
that (a) this Agreement is executed and delivered by Wilmington Trust Company,
not individually or personally but solely as Owner Trustee of the Trust, (b) any
representations, undertakings and agreements herein made on the part of the
Trust are made and intended not as
1
personal representations, undertakings and agreements by Wilmington Trust
Company but only for the purpose of binding the Trust, (c) nothing herein
contained shall be construed as creating any liability on Wilmington Trust
Company individually or personally, to perform any covenant either expressed or
implied contained herein, all such liability, if any, being expressly waived by
the parties to this Agreement and by any person claiming by, through or under
them and (d) under no circumstances shall Wilmington Trust Company be personally
liable for the payment of any indebtedness or expenses of the Trust or be liable
for the breach or failure of any obligation, representation, warranty or
covenant made or undertaking by the Trust under this Agreement or any related
documents.
2
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding,
please sign and return to us two counterparts hereof, and upon acceptance hereof
by you, this letter and such acceptance hereof, including the provisions of the
Standard Provisions incorporated herein by reference, shall constitute a binding
agreement among the Underwriter, the Depositor and the Trust.
Very truly yours,
PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES SECURED
FINANCING CORPORATION
By: /s/ Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxx
-------------------------------
Name: Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxx
Title: Vice President
HOMEGOLD HOME EQUITY LOAN
TRUST 1999-1, Issuer
By: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,
not in its individual capacity
but solely as Owner Trustee
By: /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxx
-------------------------------
Name:
Title:
Accepted as of the date hereof:
PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES INCORPORATED
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
Title: Director
[Signature Page to the Underwriting Agreement]
3
SCHEDULE I
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title of Offered Securities: HomeGold Home Equity Loan Asset Backed Notes,
Series 1999-1, Class A-1 and Class A-2, (together,
the "Class A Notes.")
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Terms of Offered Securities: The Offered Securities shall have the terms set
forth in the Prospectus and shall conform in all
material respects to the descriptions thereof
contained therein, and shall be issued pursuant to
an Indenture between the Trust, and First Union
National Bank, as indenture trustee.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Purchase Price: The purchase price for the Class A-1 Notes shall be
99.50% plus accrued interest at the rate of 6.87%
per annum from May 1, 1999 to the date of payment
thereof. The purchase price for the Class A-2 Notes
shall be 99.50% plus accrued interest at the rate
of 6.82% per annum from May 1, 1999 to the date of
payment thereof.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Specified funds for payment of Federal Funds (immediately available funds).
Purchase Price:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Required Rating: Aaa by Xxxxx'x Investors Service, Inc.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AAA by Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, a
division of The XxXxxx-Xxxx
Companies, Inc.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Closing Date: On or about May 27, 1999 at 12:00 noon eastern
standard time or at such other time as the
Depositor and the Underwriter shall agree.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Closing Location: Offices of Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx LLP, 1301 Avenue of the
Americas, New York, New York.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name and address of Designated Representative: Prudential Securities
Representative: Incorporated.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address for Notices, Xxx Xxx Xxxx Xxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
etc.: Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attn: Asset-Backed Securities
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4
STANDARD PROVISIONS TO UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
May 19, 1999
From time to time, Prudential Securities Secured Financing
Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Depositor") may enter into one or more
underwriting agreements (each, an "Underwriting Agreement") that provide for the
sale of designated securities to the several underwriters named therein (such
underwriters constituting the "Underwriters" with respect to such Underwriting
Agreement and the securities specified therein). The several underwriters named
in an Underwriting Agreement will be represented by one or more representatives
as named in such Underwriting Agreement (collectively, the "Representative").
The term "Representativte" also refers to a single firm acting as sole
representative of the Underwriters and to Underwriters who act without any firm
being designated as their representative. The standard provisions set forth
herein (the "Standard Provisions") may be incorporated by reference in any
Underwriting Agreement. This Agreement shall not be construed as an obligation
of the Depositor to sell any securities or as an obligation of any of the
Underwriters to purchase such securities. The obligation of the Depositor to
sell any securities and the obligation of any of the Underwriters to purchase
any of the securities shall be evidenced by the Underwriting Agreement with
respect to the securities specified therein. An Underwriting Agreement shall be
in the form of an executed writing (which may be in counterparts), and may be
evidenced by an exchange of telegraphic communications or any other rapid
transmission device designed to produce a written record of the communications
transmitted. The obligations of the underwriters under this Agreement and each
Underwriting Agreement shall be several and not joint. Unless otherwise defined
herein, the terms defined in the Underwriting Agreement are used herein as
defined in the Prospectus referred to below.
1. THE OFFERED SECURITIES. The Depositor proposes to sell
pursuant to the applicable Underwriting Agreement to the several Underwriters
named therein home equity loan asset backed notes (the "Securities")
representing beneficial ownership interests in a trust, the trust property of
which consists of a pool of Mortgage Loans and certain related property. The
Securities will be issued pursuant to an Indenture dated as of May 1, 1999
between the Trust and First Union National Bank, as Indenture Trustee (the
"Trustee"). The underlying home equity loans are to be serviced pursuant to a
Sale and Servicing Agreement dated as of May 1, 1999 (the "Sale and Servicing
Agreement") by and among the Trust, the Depositor, HomeGold, Inc. (the
"Servicer") and the Trustee.
The terms and rights of any particular issuance of Securities
shall be as specified in the Underwriting Agreement relating thereto and in or
pursuant to the Sale and Servicing Agreement identified in such Underwriting
Agreement. The Securities which are the subject of any particular Underwriting
Agreement into which this Agreement is incorporated are herein referred to as
the "Offered Securities."
5
The Depositor has filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") a registration statement on Form S-3 (File No.
333-74859), including a prospectus relating to the Securities under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"). The term "Registration
Statement" means such registration statement as amended to the date of the
Underwriting Agreement. The term "Basic Prospectus" means the prospectus
included in the Registration Statement. The term "Prospectus" means the Basic
Prospectus together with the prospectus supplement specifically relating to the
Offered Securities, as first filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424. The
term "Preliminary Prospectus" means a preliminary prospectus supplement
specifically relating to the Offered Securities together with the Basic
Prospectus.
2. OFFERING BY THE UNDERWRITERS. Upon the execution of the
Underwriting Agreement applicable to any Offered Securities and the
authorization by the Representative of the release of such Offered Securities,
the several Underwriters propose to offer for sale to the public the Offered
Securities at the prices and upon the terms set forth in the Prospectus.
3. PURCHASE, SALE AND DELIVERY OF THE OFFERED SECURITIES.
Unless otherwise specified in the Underwriting Agreement, payment for the
Offered Securities shall be made by certified or official bank check or checks
payable to the order of the Depositor in immediately available or next day
funds, at the time and place set forth in the Underwriting Agreement, upon
delivery to the Representative for the respective accounts of the several
Underwriters of the Offered Securities registered in definitive form and in such
names and in such denominations as the Representative shall request in writing
not less than five full business days prior to the date of delivery. The time
and date of such payment and delivery with respect to the Offered Securities are
herein referred to as the "Closing Date".
4. CONDITIONS OF THE UNDERWRITERS' OBLIGATIONS. The respective
obligations of the several Underwriters pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement
shall be subject, in the discretion of the Representative, to the accuracy in
all material respects of the representations and warranties of the Depositor
contained herein as of the date of the Underwriting Agreement and as of the
Closing Date as if made on and as of the Closing Date, to the accuracy in all
material respects of the statements of the officers of the Depositor and the
Servicer made in any certificates pursuant to the provisions hereof and of the
Underwriting Agreement, to the performance by the Depositor of its covenants and
agreements contained herein and to the following additional conditions
precedent:
(a) All actions required to be taken and all filings required
to be made by or on behalf of the Depositor under the 1933 Act and the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act") prior to
the sale of the Offered Securities shall have been duly taken or made.
(b) (i) No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement shall be in effect; (ii) no proceedings for such
purpose shall be pending before or threatened by the Commission, or by
any authority administering any state securities or "Blue Sky" laws;
(iii) any requests for additional information on the part of the
Commission shall have been complied with to the Representative's
6
reasonable satisfaction, (iv) since the respective dates as of which
information is given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus
except as otherwise stated therein, there shall have been no material
adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, earnings,
affairs, regulatory situation or business prospects of the Depositor;
(v) there are no material actions, suits or proceedings pending before
any court or governmental agency, authority or body or threatened,
affecting the Depositor or the Trust or the transactions contemplated
by the Underwriting Agreement; (vi) neither the Depositor or the Trust
is in violation of its charter or its by-laws or in default in the
performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or
condition contained in any contract, indenture, mortgage, loan
agreement, note, lease or other instrument to which it is a party or by
which it or its properties may be bound, which violations or defaults
separately or in the aggregate would have a material adverse effect on
the Depositor; and (vii) the Representative shall have received, on the
Closing Date a certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by an
executive officer of the Depositor, to the foregoing effect.
(c) Subsequent to the execution of the Underwriting Agreement,
there shall not have occurred any of the following: (i) if at or prior
to the Closing Date, trading in securities on the New York Stock
Exchange shall have been suspended or any material limitation in
trading in securities generally shall have been established on such
exchange, or a banking moratorium shall have been declared by New York
or United States authorities; (ii) if at or prior to the Closing Date,
there shall have been an outbreak or escalation of hostilities between
the United States and any foreign power, or of any other insurrection
or armed conflict involving the United States which results in the
declaration of a national emergency or war, and, in the reasonable
opinion of the Representative, makes it impracticable or inadvisable to
offer or sell the Offered Securities or (iii) if at or prior to the
Closing Date, a general moratorium on commercial banking activities in
New York shall have been declared by either Federal or New York State
authorities.
(d) The Representative shall have received, on the Closing
Date, a certificate dated the Closing Date and signed by an executive
officer of the Depositor to the effect that attached thereto is a true
and correct copy of the letter from each nationally recognized
statistical rating organization (as that term is defined by the
Commission for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the 0000 Xxx) that
rated the Offered Securities and confirming that, unless otherwise
specified in the Underwriting Agreement, the Offered Securities have
been rated in the highest rating categories by each such organization
and that each such rating has not been rescinded since the date of the
applicable letter.
(e) The Representative shall have received, on the Closing
Date, an opinion of Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx LLP, special counsel for the
Depositor, dated the Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory
to the Representative and containing opinions substantially to the
effect set forth in Exhibit A hereto.
7
(f) The Representative shall have received, on the Closing
Date, an opinion of counsel for the Servicer, dated the Closing Date,
in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative and counsel
for the Underwriters and containing opinions substantially to the
effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto.
(g) The Representative shall have received, on the Closing
Date, an opinion of counsel for the Trustee, dated the Closing Date, in
form and substance satisfactory to the Representative and counsel for
the Underwriters and containing opinions substantially to the effect
set forth in Exhibit C hereto.
(h) The Representative shall have received, on the Closing
Date, an opinion of Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx LLP, special counsel for the
Depositor, dated the Closing Date, with respect to the incorporation of
the Depositor, the validity of the Offered Securities, the Registration
Statement, the Prospectus and other related matters as the Underwriters
may reasonably require, and the Depositor shall have furnished to such
counsel such documents as they request for the purpose of enabling them
to pass upon such matters.
(i) The Representative shall have received, on or prior to the
date of first use of the prospectus supplement relating to the Offered
Securities, and on the Closing Date if requested by the Representative,
letters of independent accountants of the Depositor in the form and
reflecting the performance of the procedures previously requested by
the Representative.
(j) The Depositor shall have furnished or caused to be
furnished to the Representative on the Closing Date a certificate of an
executive officer of the Depositor satisfactory to the Representative
as to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the
Depositor herein at and as of such Closing Date as if made as of such
date, as to the performance by the Depositor of all of its obligations
hereunder to be performed at or prior to such Closing Date, and as to
such other matters as the Representative may reasonably request;
(k) The Servicer shall have furnished or caused to be
furnished to the Representative on the Closing Date a certificate of
officers of such Servicer in form and substance reasonably satisfactory
to the Representative;
(l) The Policy shall have been duly executed and issued at or
prior to the Closing Date and shall conform in all material respects to
the description thereof in the Prospectus Supplement.
(m) The Representative shall have received, on the Closing
Date, an opinion of counsel to Financial Security Assurance Inc. ("the
Insurer"), dated the Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory
to the Representative and counsel for the Underwriters and containing
opinions substantially to the effect set forth in Exhibit D hereto.
(n) On or prior to the Closing Date there shall not have
occurred any downgrading, nor shall any notice have been given of (i)
any intended or potential
8
downgrading or (ii) any review or possible change in rating the
direction of which has not been indicated, in the rating accorded the
Insurer's claims paying ability by any "nationally recognized
statistical rating organization," as such term is defined for purposes
of the 0000 Xxx.
(o) There shall not have occurred any change, or any
development involving a prospective change, in the condition, financial
or otherwise, or in the earnings, business or operations, since
December 31, 1998, of the Insurer, that is in the Representative's
judgment material and adverse and that makes it in the Representative's
judgment impracticable to market the Offered Securities on the terms
and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus.
(p) The Representative shall have been furnished such further
information, certificates, documents and opinions as the Representative
may reasonably request.
5. COVENANTS OF THE DEPOSITOR. In further consideration of the
agreements of the Underwriters contained in the Underwriting Agreement, the
Depositor covenants as follows:
(a) To furnish the Representative, without charge, copies of
the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto including
exhibits and as many copies of the Prospectus and any supplements and
amendments thereto as the Representative may from time to time
reasonably request.
(b) Immediately following the execution of the Underwriting
Agreement, the Depositor will prepare a prospectus supplement setting
forth the principal amount, notional amount or stated amount, as
applicable, of Offered Securities covered thereby, the price at which
the Offered Securities are to be purchased by the Underwriters from the
Depositor, either the initial public offering price or prices or the
method by which the price or prices at which the Offered Securities are
to be sold will be determined, the selling concessions and
reallowances, if any, any delayed delivery arrangements, and such other
information as the Representative and the Depositor deem appropriate in
connection with the offering of the Offered Securities, but the
Depositor will not file any amendment to the Registration Statement or
any supplement to the Prospectus of which the Representative shall not
previously have been advised and furnished with a copy a reasonable
time prior to the proposed filing or to which the Representative shall
have reasonably objected. The Depositor will use its best efforts to
cause any amendment to the Registration Statement to become effective
as promptly as possible. During the time when a Prospectus is required
to be delivered under the 1933 Act, the Depositor will comply so far as
it is able with all requirements imposed upon it by the 1933 Act and
the rules and regulations thereunder to the extent necessary to permit
the continuance of sales or of dealings in the Offered Securities in
accordance with the provisions hereof and of the Prospectus, and the
Depositor will prepare and file with the Commission, promptly upon
request by the Representative, any amendments to
9
the Registration Statement or supplements to the Prospectus which may
be necessary or advisable in connection with the distribution of the
Offered Securities by the Underwriters, and will use its best efforts
to cause the same to become effective as promptly as possible. The
Depositor will advise the Representative, promptly after it receives
notice thereof, of the time when any amendment to the Registration
Statement or any amended Registration Statement has become effective or
any supplement to the Prospectus or any amended Prospectus has been
filed. The Depositor will advise the Representative, promptly after it
receives notice or obtains knowledge thereof, of the issuance by the
Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement or any order preventing or suspending the use of
any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, or the suspension of the
qualification of the Offered Securities for offering or sale in any
jurisdiction, or of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for
any such purpose, or of any request made by the Commission for the
amending or supplementing of the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus or for additional information, and the Depositor will use
its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such stop order or any
order suspending any such qualification, and if any such order is
issued, to obtain the lifting thereof as promptly as possible.
(c) If, at any time when a prospectus relating to the Offered
Securities is required to be delivered under the 1933 Act, any event
occurs as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or
supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact, or
omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or if it is
necessary for any other reason to amend or supplement the Prospectus to
comply with the 1933 Act, to promptly notify the Representative thereof
and upon their request to prepare and file with the Commission, at the
Depositor's own expense, an amendment or supplement which will correct
such statement or omission or any amendment which will effect such
compliance.
(d) During the period when a prospectus is required by law to
be delivered in connection with the sale of the Offered Securities
pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, the Depositor will file, on a
timely and complete basis, all documents that are required to be filed
by the Depositor with the Commission pursuant to Sections 13, 14, or
15(d) of the 1934 Act.
(e) To qualify the Offered Securities for offer and sale under
the securities or "Blue Sky" laws of such jurisdictions as the
Representative shall reasonably request and to pay all expenses
(including fees and disbursements of counsel) in connection with such
qualification of the eligibility of the Offered Securities for
investment under the laws of such jurisdictions as the Representative
may designate provided that in connection therewith the Depositor shall
not be required to qualify to do business or to file a general consent
to service of process in any jurisdiction.
10
(f) To make generally available to the Depositor's security
holders, as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than
eighteen months after the date on which the filing of the Prospectus,
as amended or supplemented, pursuant to Rule 424 under the 1933 Act
first occurs, an earnings statement of the Depositor covering a
twelve-month period beginning after the date of the Underwriting
Agreement, which shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the
1933 Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder (including at the option of the Depositor Rule 158).
(g) For so long as any of the Offered Securities remain
outstanding, to furnish to the Representative upon request in writing
copies of such financial statements and other periodic and special
reports as the Depositor may from time to time distribute generally to
its creditors or the holders of the Offered Securities and to furnish
to the Representative copies of each annual or other report the
Depositor shall be required to file with the Commission.
(h) For so long as any of the Offered Securities remain
outstanding, the Depositor will, or will cause the Servicer to, furnish
to the Representative, as soon as available, a copy of (i) the annual
statement of compliance delivered by the Servicer to the Trustee under
the applicable Sale and Servicing Agreement, (ii) the annual
independent public accountants' servicing report furnished to the
Trustee pursuant to the applicable Sale and Servicing Agreement, (iii)
each report regarding the Offered Securities mailed to the holders of
such Securities, and (iv) from time to time, such other information
concerning such Securities as the Representative may reasonably
request.
6. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE DEPOSITOR. The
Depositor represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each Underwriter, as of
the date of the Underwriting Agreement, as follows:
(a) The Registration Statement including a prospectus relating
to the Securities and the offering thereof from time to time in
accordance with Rule 415 under the 1933 Act has been filed with the
Commission and such Registration Statement, as amended to the date of
the Underwriting Agreement, has become effective. No stop order
suspending the effectiveness of such Registration Statement has been
issued and no proceeding for that purpose has been initiated or
threatened by the Commission. A prospectus supplement specifically
relating to the Offered Securities will be filed with the Commission
pursuant to Rule 424 under the 1933 Act; provided, however, that a
supplement to the Prospectus prepared pursuant to Section 5(b) hereof
shall be deemed to have supplemented the Basic Prospectus only with
respect to the Offered Securities to which it relates. The conditions
to the use of a registration statement on Form S-3 under the 1933 Act,
as set forth in the General Instructions on Form S-3, and the
conditions of Rule 415 under the 1933 Act, have been satisfied with
respect to the Depositor and the Registration Statement. There are no
contracts or documents of the Depositor that are required to be filed
as exhibits to the Registration Statement
11
pursuant to the 1933 Act or the rules and regulations thereunder that
have not been so filed.
(b) On the effective date of the Registration Statement, the
Registration Statement and the Basic Prospectus conformed in all
material respects to the requirements of the 1933 Act and the rules and
regulations thereunder, and did not include any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; on
the date of the Underwriting Agreement and as of the Closing Date, the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus conform, and as amended or
supplemented, if applicable, will conform in all material respects to
the requirements of the 1933 Act and the rules and regulations
thereunder, and on the date of the Underwriting Agreement and as of the
Closing Date, neither of such documents includes any untrue statement
of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading, and neither of such documents as amended or supplemented,
if applicable, will include any untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; provided,
however, that the foregoing does not apply to statements or omissions
in any of such documents based upon written information furnished to
the Depositor by any Underwriter specifically for use therein.
(c) Since the respective dates as of which information is
given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, except as
otherwise stated therein, there has been no material adverse change in
the condition, financial or otherwise, earnings, affairs, regulatory
situation or business prospects of the Depositor, whether or not
arising in the ordinary course of the business of the Depositor.
(d) The Depositor has been duly organized and is validly
existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State
of Delaware.
(e) The Depositor has all requisite power and authority
(corporate and other) and all requisite authorizations, approvals,
order, licenses, certificates and permits of and from all government or
regulatory officials and bodies to own its properties, to conduct its
business as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus
and to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement, the Underwriting
Agreement, the Sale and Servicing Agreement and, if applicable, the
Custodial Agreement, except such as may be required under state
securities or Blue Sky laws in connection with the purchase and
distribution by the Underwriter of the Offered Securities; all such
authorizations, approvals, orders, licenses, certificates are in full
force and effect and contain no unduly burdensome provisions; and,
except as set forth or contemplated in the Registration Statement or
the Prospectus, there are no legal or governmental proceedings pending
or, to the best knowledge of the Depositor, threatened that would
result in a material modification, suspension or revocation thereof.
12
(f) The Offered Securities have been duly authorized, and when
the Offered Securities are issued and delivered pursuant to the
Underwriting Agreement, the Offered Securities will have been duly
executed, issued and delivered and will be entitled to the benefits
provided by the applicable Pooling and Servicing Agreement, subject, as
to the enforcement of remedies, to applicable bankruptcy,
reorganization, insolvency, moratorium and other laws affecting the
rights of creditors generally, and to general principles of equity
(regardless of whether the entitlement to such benefits is considered
in a proceeding in equity or at law), and will conform in substance to
the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus, and will in all material respects be in the form
contemplated by the Indenture.
(g) The execution and delivery by the Depositor of this
Agreement, the Underwriting Agreement and the Sale and Servicing
Agreement are within the corporate power of the Depositor and neither
the execution and delivery by the Depositor of this Agreement, the
Underwriting Agreement and the Sale and Servicing Agreement nor the
consummation by the Depositor of the transactions therein contemplated,
nor the compliance by the Depositor with the provisions thereof, will
conflict with or result in a breach of, or constitute a default under,
the charter or the by-laws of the Depositor or any of the provisions of
any law, governmental rule, regulation, judgment, decree or order
binding on the Depositor or its properties, or any of the provisions of
any indenture, mortgage, contract or other instrument to which the
Depositor is a party or by which it is bound, or will result in the
creation or imposition of a lien, charge or encumbrance upon any of its
property pursuant to the terms of any such indenture, mortgage,
contract or other instrument, except such as have been obtained under
the 1933 Act and such consents, approvals, authorizations,
registrations or qualifications as may be required under state
securities or Blue Sky laws in connection with the purchase and
distribution of the Offered Securities by the Underwriters.
(h) The Underwriting Agreement has been, and at the Closing
Date the Sale and Servicing Agreement will have been, duly authorized,
executed and delivered by the Depositor.
(i) At the Closing Date, each of the Underwriting Agreement
and the Sale and Servicing Agreement will constitute a legal, valid and
binding obligation of the Depositor, enforceable against the Depositor,
in accordance with its terms, subject, as to the enforcement of
remedies, to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency,
moratorium and other laws affecting the rights of creditors generally,
and to general principles of equity and the discretion of the court
(regardless of whether the enforcement of such remedies is considered
in a proceeding in equity or at law).
(j) No filing or registration with, notice to, or consent,
approval, non-disapproval, authorization or order or other action of,
any court or governmental authority or agency is required for the
consummation by the Depositor of the transactions contemplated by the
Underwriting Agreement or the Sale and
13
Servicing Agreement, except such as have been obtained and except such
as may be required under the 1933 Act, the rules and regulations
thereunder, or state securities or "Blue Sky" laws, in connection with
the purchase and distribution of the Offered Securities by the
Underwriters.
(k) The Depositor owns or possesses or has obtained all
material governmental licenses, permits, consents, orders, approvals
and other authorizations necessary to lease, own or license, as the
case may be, and to operate, its properties and to carry on its
business as presently conducted and has received no notice of
proceedings relating to the revocation of any such license, permit,
consent, order or approval, which singly or in the aggregate, if the
subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would materially
adversely affect the conduct of the business, results of operations,
net worth or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Depositor.
(l) Other than as set forth or contemplated in the Prospectus,
there are no legal or governmental proceedings pending to which the
Depositor is a party or of which any property of the Depositor is the
subject which, if determined adversely to the Depositor would
individually or in the aggregate have a material adverse effect on the
condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, affairs, or business or
business prospects of the Depositor and, to the best of the Depositor's
knowledge, no such proceedings are threatened or contemplated by
governmental authorities or threatened by others.
(m) [Reserved].
(n) At the Closing Date each of the Mortgage Loans which is a
subject of the Sale and Servicing Agreement and all such Mortgage Loans
in the aggregate will meet the criteria for selection described in the
Prospectus, and at the Closing Date, the representations and warranties
made by the Depositor in such Sale and Servicing Agreement will be true
and correct as of such date.
(o) At the time of execution and delivery of the Sale and
Servicing Agreement, the Depositor will have good and marketable title
to the Mortgage Loans being transferred to the Trustee pursuant to the
Sale and Servicing Agreement, free and clear of any lien, mortgage,
pledge, charge, encumbrance, adverse claim or other security interest
(collectively "Liens"), and will not have assigned to any person any of
its right, title or interest in such Mortgage Loans or in such Sale and
Servicing Agreement or the Offered Securities being issued pursuant
thereto, the Depositor will have the power and authority to transfer
such Mortgage Loans to the Trustee and to transfer the Offered
Securities to each of the Underwriters, and, upon execution and
delivery to the Trustee of the Sale and Servicing Agreement and
delivery to each of the Underwriters of the Offered Securities, the
Trustee will have good and marketable title to the Mortgage Loans and
each of the Underwriters will have good and marketable title to the
Offered Securities, in each case free and clear of any Liens.
14
(p) The Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust
Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and the Trust is not required to be
registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
(q) Any taxes, fees and other governmental charges in
connection with the execution, delivery and issuance of the
Underwriting Agreement, this Agreement, the Sale and Servicing
Agreement and the Offered Securities have been or will be paid at or
prior to the Closing Date.
7. INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION. The Depositor agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter (including Prudential Securities
Incorporated acting in its capacity as Representative and as one of the
Underwriters), and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the
meaning of the 1933 Act, against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities,
joint or several, to which such Underwriter or such controlling person may
become subject under the 1933 Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims,
damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based
upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact
contained in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the
Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based
upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading,
and will reimburse each Underwriter and each such controlling person for any
legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Underwriter or such
controlling person in connection with investigating or defending any such loss,
claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the Depositor will
not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage
or liability arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in the Registration
Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendment or
supplement thereto in reliance upon and in conformity with (1) written
information furnished to the Depositor by any Underwriter through the
Representative specifically for use therein or (2) information regarding the
Mortgage Loans except to the extent that the Depositor has been indemnified by
the Servicer. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability
which the Depositor may otherwise have.
(a) Each Underwriter will indemnify and hold harmless the
Depositor, each of the Depositor's directors, each of the Depositor's
officers who signed the Registration Statement and each person, if any,
who controls the Depositor, within the meaning of the 1933 Act, against
any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Depositor, or
any such director, officer or controlling person may become subject,
under the 1933 Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims,
damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or
are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any
material fact contained in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary
Prospectus, the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or
any other prospectus relating to the Offered Securities, or arise out
of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein
a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, in each case to the
15
extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statements or alleged
untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in reliance
upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the
Depositor by any Underwriter through the Representative specifically
for use therein; and each Underwriter will reimburse any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred by the Depositor or any such director,
officer or controlling person in connection with investigating or
defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action. This
indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which such
Underwriter may otherwise have. The Depositor acknowledges that the
statements set forth under the caption "Plan of Distribution" in the
Prospectus Supplement constitute the only information furnished to the
Depositor by or on behalf of any Underwriter for use in the
Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus,
and each of the several Underwriters represents and warrants that such
statements are correct as to it.
(b) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this
Section 7 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified
party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the
indemnifying party under this Section 7, notify the indemnifying party
of the commencement thereof, but the omission to so notify the
indemnifying party will not relieve the indemnifying party from any
liability which the indemnifying party may have to any indemnified
party hereunder except to the extent such indemnifying party has been
prejudiced thereby. In case any such action is brought against any
indemnified party, and it notifies the indemnifying party of the
commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be entitled to
participate therein and, to the extent that it may wish, jointly with
any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense
thereof with counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party. After
notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its
election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party will
not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section 7 for any
legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party
in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of
investigation; provided, however, that the Representative shall have
the right to employ separate counsel to represent the Representative,
those other Underwriters and their respective controlling persons who
may be subject to liability arising out of any claim in respect of
which indemnity may be sought by the Underwriters against the Depositor
under this Section 7 if, in the reasonable judgment of the
Representative, it is advisable for the Representative and those
Underwriters and controlling persons to be represented by separate
counsel, and in that event the fees and expenses of such separate
counsel shall be paid by the Depositor (it being understood, however,
that the Depositor shall not, in connection with any one such claim or
separate but substantially similar or related claim in the same
jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or
circumstances, be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of more
than one separate firm of attorneys at any time for the Representative
and those Underwriters and controlling persons).
16
(c) In order to provide for just and equitable contribution in
circumstances in which the indemnity agreement provided for in the
preceding parts of this Section 7 is for any reason held to be
unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party
under subsection (a) or (b) above in respect of any losses, claims,
damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to
therein, then the indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount
paid or payable by the indemnified party as a result of such losses,
claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof);
provided, however, that no person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 0000 Xxx)
shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of
such fraudulent misrepresentation. In determining the amount of
contribution to which the respective parties are entitled, there shall
be considered the relative benefits received by the Depositor on the
one hand, and the Underwriters on the other, from the offering of the
Offered Securities (taking into account the portion of the proceeds of
the offering realized by each), the Depositor's and the Underwriters'
relative knowledge and access to information concerning the matter with
respect to which the claim was asserted, the opportunity to correct and
prevent any statement or omission, and any other equitable
considerations appropriate in the circumstances. The Depositor and the
Underwriters agree that it would not be equitable if the amount of such
contribution were determined by pro rata or per capita allocation (even
if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose). No
Underwriter or person controlling such Underwriter shall be obligated
to make contribution hereunder which in the aggregate exceeds the total
public offering price of the Offered Securities purchased by such
Underwriter under the Underwriting Agreement, less the aggregate amount
of any damages which such Underwriter and its controlling persons have
otherwise been required to pay in respect of the same or any
substantially similar claim. The Underwriters' obligation to contribute
hereunder are several in proportion to their respective underwriting
obligations and not joint. For purposes of this Section 7, each person,
if any, who controls an Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of
the 1933 Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such
Underwriter, and each director of the Depositor, each officer of the
Depositor who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if
any, who controls the Depositor within the meaning of Section 15 of the
1933 Act, shall have the same rights to contribution as the Depositor.
(d) The parties hereto agree that the first sentence of
Section 5 of the Indemnification Agreement (the "Indemnification
Agreement") dated as of the Closing Date among the Insurer, the
Servicer, the Depositor and the Underwriter shall not be construed as
limiting the Depositor's right to enforce its rights under Section 7 of
this Agreement. The parties further agree that, as between the parties
hereto, to the extent that the provisions of Section 4, 5 and 6 of the
Indemnification Agreement conflict with Section 7 hereof, the
provisions of Section 7 hereof shall govern.
(e) Each Underwriter agrees to provide the Depositor no later
than the date on which the Prospectus Supplement is required to be
filed pursuant to Rule
17
424 with a copy of its Derived Information (defined below) for filing
with the Commission on Form 8-K.
(f) Each Underwriter severally agrees, assuming all
Depositor-Provided Information (defined below) is accurate and complete
in all material respects, to indemnify and hold harmless the Depositor,
its respective officers and directors and each person who controls the
Depositor within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act
against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or
several, to which they may become subject under the Securities Act or
the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages
or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are
based upon any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the
Derived Information provided by such Underwriter, or arise out of or
are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading, and agrees to reimburse each such
indemnified party for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred
by him, her or it in connection with investigating or defending or
preparing to defend any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action
as such expenses are incurred. The obligations of an Underwriter under
this Section 8(e) shall be in addition to any liability which such
Underwriter may otherwise have.
The procedures set forth in Section 7(c) shall be equally
applicable to this Section 7(e).
For purposes of this Section 7, the term "Derived Information"
means such portion, if any, of the information delivered to the Depositor
pursuant to Section 7(e) for filing with the Commission on Form 8-K as: (i) is
not contained in the Prospectus without taking into account information
incorporated therein by reference; and (ii) does not constitute
Depositor-Provided Information. "Depositor-Provided Information" means any
computer tape furnished to the Underwriter by the Depositor concerning the
assets comprising the Trust.
8. SURVIVAL OF CERTAIN REPRESENTATIONS AND OBLIGATIONS. The
respective representations, warranties, agreements, covenants, indemnities and
other statements of the Depositor, its officers and the several Underwriters set
forth in, or made pursuant to, the Underwriting Agreement shall remain in full
force and effect, regardless of any investigation, or statement as to the result
thereof, made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, the Depositor, or any of the
officers or directors or any controlling person of any of the foregoing, and
shall survive the delivery of and payment for the Offered Securities.
9. TERMINATION.
(a) The Underwriting Agreement may be terminated by the
Depositor by notice to the Representative in the event that a stop
order suspending the
18
effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued or
proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted or threatened.
(b) The Underwriting Agreement may be terminated by the
Representative by notice to the Depositor in the event that the
Depositor shall have failed, refused or been unable to perform all
obligations and satisfy all conditions to be performed or satisfied
hereunder by the Depositor at or prior to the Closing Date.
(c) Termination of the Underwriting Agreement pursuant to this
Section 9 shall be without liability of any party to any other party
other than as provided in Sections 7 and 11 hereof.
10. DEFAULT OF UNDERWRITERS. If any Underwriter or
Underwriters defaults or default in their obligation to purchase Offered
Securities which it or they have agreed to purchase under the Underwriting
Agreement and the aggregate principal amount of the Offered Securities which
such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase is ten
percent or less of the aggregate principal amount, notional amount or stated
amount, as applicable, of the Offered Securities to be sold under the
Underwriting Agreement, as the case may be, the other Underwriters shall be
obligated severally in proportion to their respective commitments under the
Underwriting Agreement to purchase the Offered Securities which such defaulting
Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase. If any Underwriter or
Underwriters so defaults or default and the aggregate principal amount of the
Offered Securities with respect to which such default or defaults occurs or
occur is more than ten percent of the aggregate principal amount, notional
amount or stated amount, as applicable, of Offered Securities to be sold under
the Underwriting agreement, as the case may be, and arrangements satisfactory to
the Representative and the Depositor for the purchase of such Offered Securities
by other persons (who may include one or more of the non-defaulting Underwriters
including the Representative) are not made within 36 hours after any such
default, the Underwriting Agreement will terminate without liability on the part
of any non-defaulting Underwriters or the Depositor except for the expenses to
be paid or reimbursed by the Depositor pursuant to Section 11 hereof. As used in
the Underwriting Agreement, the term "Underwriter" includes any person
substituted for an Underwriter under this Section 10. Nothing herein shall
relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default.
11. EXPENSES. The Depositor agrees with the several
Underwriters that:
(a) whether or not the transactions contemplated in the
Underwriting Agreement are consummated or the Underwriting Agreement is
terminated, the Depositor will pay all fees and expenses incident to
the performance of its obligations under the Underwriting Agreement,
including but not limited to, (i) the Commission's registration fee,
(ii) the expenses of printing and distributing the Underwriting
Agreement and any related underwriting documents, the Registration
Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, any
19
amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus, and any Blue Sky memorandum or legal investment survey and
any supplements thereto, (iii) fees and expenses of rating agencies,
accountants and counsel for the Depositor, (iv) the expenses referred
to in Section 5(e) hereof, and (v) all miscellaneous expenses referred
to in Item 30 of the Registration Statement;
(b) all out-of-pocket expenses, including counsel fees,
disbursements and expenses, reasonably incurred by the Underwriters in
connection with investigating, preparing to market and marketing the
Offered Securities and proposing to purchase and purchasing the Offered
Securities under the Underwriting Agreement will be borne and paid by
the Depositor if the Underwriting Agreement is terminated by the
Depositor pursuant to Section 9(a) hereof or by the Representative on
account of the failure, refusal or inability on the part of the
Depositor to perform all obligations and satisfy all conditions on the
part of the Depositor to be performed or satisfied hereunder; and
(c) the Depositor will pay the cost of preparing the
certificates for the Offered Securities.
Except as otherwise provided in this Section 11, the
Underwriters agree to pay all of their expenses in connection with
investigating, preparing to market and marketing the Offered Securities and
proposing to purchase and purchasing the Offered Securities under the
Underwriting Agreement, including the fees and expenses of their counsel and any
advertising expenses incurred by them in making offers and sales of the Offered
Securities.
12. NOTICES. All communications under the Underwriting
Agreement shall be in writing and, if sent to the Underwriters, shall be mailed,
delivered or telegraphed and confirmed to the Representative at the address and
to the attention of the person specified in the Underwriting Agreement, and, if
sent to the Depositor, shall be mailed, delivered or telegraphed and confirmed
to Prudential Securities Secured Financing Corporation, 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx
Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, Attention: Director-Mortgage Finance Group,
and, if sent to the Trust, shall be mailed, delivered or telecopied and
confirmed to HomeGold Home Equity Loan Trust 1999-1, c/o Wilmington Trust
Company, as Owner Trustee, Xxxxxx Square North, 0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 000000-0000, Attention: Corporate Trust Administration;
provided, however, that any notice to any Underwriter pursuant to the
Underwriting Agreement shall be mailed, delivered or telegraphed and confirmed
to such Underwriter at the address furnished by it.
13. REPRESENTATIVE OF UNDERWRITERS. Any Representative
identified in the Underwriting Agreement will act for the Underwriters of the
Offered Securities and any action taken by the Representative under the
Underwriting Agreement will be binding upon all of such Underwriters.
14. SUCCESSORS. The Underwriting Agreement shall inure to the
benefit of and shall be binding upon the several Underwriters, the Trust and the
Depositor
20
and their respective successors and legal representatives, and nothing
expressed or mentioned herein or in the Underwriting Agreement is intended or
shall be construed to give any other person any legal or equitable right, remedy
or claim under or in respect of the Underwriting Agreement, or any provisions
herein contained, the Underwriting Agreement and all conditions and provisions
hereof being intended to be and being for the sole and exclusive benefit of such
persons and for the benefit of no other person except that (i) the
representations and warranties of the Depositor contained herein or in the
Underwriting Agreement shall also be for the benefit of any person or persons
who controls or control any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the
1933 Act, and (ii) the indemnities by the several Underwriters shall also be for
the benefit of the directors of the Depositor, the officers of the Depositor who
have signed the Registration Statement and any person or persons who control the
Depositor within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act. No purchaser of the
Offered Securities from any Underwriter shall be deemed a successor because of
such purchase. This Agreement and each Underwriting Agreement may be executed in
two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of
which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
15. TIME OF THE ESSENCE. Time shall be of the essence of each
Underwriting Agreement.
16. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement and each Underwriting
Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the
State of New York.
21
Exhibit A
Opinions of Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx,
Special Counsel for the Depositor
(i) Each of the Documents constitutes the valid, legal and
binding agreement of the Depositor, and is enforceable against the Depositor in
accordance with its terms.
(ii) The Notes, assuming the due execution by the Trustee and
due authentication by the Trustee and payment therefor pursuant to the
Underwriting Agreement, are validly issued and outstanding and are entitled to
the benefits of the Indenture.
(iii) No consent, approval, authorization or order of,
registration or filing with, or notice to, any governmental authority or court
is required under federal laws or the laws of the State of New York for the
execution, delivery and performance of the Documents or the offer, issuance,
sale or delivery of the Notes or the consummation of any other transaction
contemplated thereby by the Depositor, except such which have been obtained.
(iv) The Registration Statement and the Prospectus (other than
the financial and statistical data included therein, as to which we are not
called upon to express any opinion), at the time the Registration Statement
became effective, as of the date of execution of the Underwriting Agreement and
as of the date hereof comply as to form in all material respects with the
requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and
regulations thereunder, and the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations
thereunder, and we do not know of any amendment to the Registration Statement
required to be filed, or of any contracts, indentures or other documents of a
character required to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement or
required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, which
has not been filed or described as required.
(v) The Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust
Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and the Trust is not required to be
registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
(vi) The statements in the Prospectus Supplement set forth
under the caption "DESCRIPTION OF THE NOTES," to the extent such statements
purport to summarize certain provisions of the Notes or of the Sale and
Servicing Agreement or of the Unaffiliated Seller's Agreement, are fair and
accurate in all material respects.
Exhibit B
Opinions of Counsel
to the Servicer
(i) The Servicer has been duly organized and is validly
existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of South
Carolina and is qualified to transact business in the State of South Carolina.
(ii) The Servicer has the requisite power and authority to
execute and deliver, engage in the transactions contemplated by, and perform and
observe the conditions of, the Sale and Servicing Agreement.
(iii) The Sale and Servicing Agreement has been duly and
validly authorized, executed and delivered by the Servicer, all requisite
corporate action having been taken with respect thereto, and constitutes the
valid, legal and binding agreement of the Servicer, and is enforceable against
the Servicer in accordance with its respective terms.
(iv) The execution, delivery or performance by the Servicer of
the Sale and Servicing Agreement does not (A) conflict or will not conflict with
or result or will result in a breach of, or constitute or will constitute a
default under or violate or will violate, (i) any term or provision of the
Articles of Incorporation or By-laws of the Servicer; (ii) any term or provision
of any material agreement, contract, instrument or indenture, to which the
Servicer or any of its subsidiaries is a party or is bound; or (iii) any order,
judgment, writ, injunction or decree of any court or governmental agency or body
or other tribunal having jurisdiction over the Servicer or any of its
properties; or (B) result in, or will result in the creation or imposition of
any lien, charge or encumbrance upon the Trust Fund or upon the Notes, except as
otherwise contemplated by the Sale and Servicing Agreement.
(v) No consent, approval, authorization or order of,
registration or qualification of or with or notice to, any courts, governmental
agency or body or other tribunal is required under the laws of New York or South
Carolina, for the execution, delivery and performance of the Sale and Servicing
Agreement or the consummation of any other transaction contemplated thereby by
the Servicer, except such which have been obtained.
(vi) There are no legal or governmental suits, proceedings or
investigations pending or, to such counsel's knowledge, threatened against the
Servicer before any court, governmental agency or body or other tribunal (A)
which, if determined adversely to the Servicer, would individually or in the
aggregate have a material adverse effect on (i) the consolidated financial
position, business prospects, stockholders's equity or results of operations of
the Servicer; or (ii) the Servicer's ability to perform its obligations under,
or the validity or enforceability of the Sale and Servicing Agreement; or (B)
which have not otherwise been disclosed in the Registration Statement and to the
best of such counsel's knowledge, no such proceedings or investigations are
threatened or contemplated by governmental authorities or threatened by others.
B-2
Exhibit C
Opinions of Counsel
to the Trustee
(i) The Trustee is a national banking association duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the United
States and has the power and authority to enter into and to take all actions
required of it under the Indenture and the Sale and Servicing Agreement;
(ii) Each of the Indenture and the Sale and Servicing
Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Trustee and
constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Trustee, enforceable
against the Trustee in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability
thereof may be limited by (A) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other
similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally, as such
laws would apply in the event of a bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or
similar occurrence affecting the Trustee, and (B) general principles of equity
regardless of whether such enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in
equity;
(iii) No consent, approval, authorization or other action by
any governmental agency or body or other tribunal is required on the part of the
Trustee in connection with its execution and delivery of the Indenture and the
Sale and Servicing Agreement or the performance of its obligations thereunder;
(iv) The Notes have been duly executed, authenticated and
delivered by the Trustee; and
(v) The execution and delivery of, and performance by the
Trustee of its obligations under, the Indenture and the Sale and Servicing
Agreement do not conflict with or result in a violation of any statute or
regulation applicable to the Trustee, or the charter or bylaws of the Trustee,
or to the best knowledge of such counsel, any governmental authority having
jurisdiction over the Trustee or the terms of any indenture or other agreement
or instrument to which the Trustee is a party or by which it is bound.
Exhibit D
Opinions of Counsel
to the Insurer
(i) The Insurer is a stock insurance corporation, duly
incorporated and validly existing under the laws of the State of New York. The
Insurer is validly licensed and authorized to issue the Policy and perform its
obligations under the Policy in accordance with the terms thereof, under the
laws of the State of New York.
(ii) The execution and delivery by the Insurer of the Policy,
the Insurance and Indemnity Agreement and the Indemnification Agreement are
within the corporate power of the Insurer and has been authorized by all
necessary corporate action on the part of the Insurer; the Policy has been duly
executed and is the valid and binding obligation of the Insurer enforceable in
accordance with its terms except that the enforcement of the Policy may be
limited by laws relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium,
receivership and other similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and by
general principles of equity.
(iii) The Insurer is authorized to deliver the Indemnification
Agreement and the Insurance and Indemnity Agreement, and each Agreement has been
duly executed and is the valid and binding obligation of the Insurer enforceable
in accordance with its terms except that the enforcement thereof may be limited
by laws relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium,
receivership and other similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and by
general principles of equity and by public policy considerations relating to
indemnification for securities law violations.
(iv) No consent, approval, authorization or order of any state
or federal court or governmental agency or body is required on the part of the
Insurer, the lack of which would adversely affect the validity or enforceability
of the Policy; to the extent required by applicable legal requirements that
would adversely affect validity or enforceability of the Policy, the form of the
Policy has been filed with, and approved by, all governmental authorities having
jurisdiction over the Insurer in connection with such Policy.
(v) To the extent the Policy constitutes a security within the
meaning of Section 2(1) of the 1933 Act, it is a security that is exempt from
the registration requirements of the Act.
(vi) The information set forth under the captions "THE
INSURER" in the Prospectus insofar as such statements constitute a description
of the Policy, accurately summarizes the Policy.
