EXHIBIT 99.4
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The Item 1115 Agreement
Item 1115 Agreement dated as of January 30, 2006 (this "Agreement"),
between COUNTRYWIDE HOME LOANS, INC., a New York corporation ("CHL"), CWABS,
INC., a Delaware corporation ("CWABS"), CWMBS, Inc., a Delaware corporation
("CWMBS"), CWALT, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("CWALT"), CWHEQ, Inc., a
Delaware corporation ("CWHEQ") and BEAR XXXXXXX FINANCIAL PRODUCTS INC., as
counterparty (the "Counterparty").
RECITALS
WHEREAS, CWABS, CWMBS, CWALT and CWHEQ each have filed
Registration Statements on Form S-3 (each, a "Registration Statement") with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") for purposes of
offering mortgage backed or asset-backed notes and/or certificates (the
"Securities") through special purpose vehicles (each, an "SPV").
WHEREAS, from time to time, on the closing date (the "Closing
Date") of a transaction pursuant to which Securities are offered (each, a
"Transaction"), the Counterparty and CHL or an underwriter or dealer with
respect to the Transaction, enter into certain derivative agreements (each, a
"Derivative Agreement"), including interest rate or currency swaps, for
purposes of providing certain yield enhancements that are assigned to the SPV
or the related trustee on behalf of the SPV or a swap or corridor contract
administrator (each, an "Administrator").
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements set
forth herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
adequacy of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereby agree as follows:
Section 1. Definitions
Company Information: As defined in Section 4(a)(i).
Company Financial Information: As defined in Section 2(a)(ii).
Depositor: Means CWABS, CWMBS, CWALT or CWHEQ with respect to
the related Registration Statement for which the entity of the registrant.
GAAP: As defined in Section 3(a)(v).
XXXXX: The Commission's Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and
Retrieval system.
Exchange Act: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
Exchange Act Reports: All Distribution Reports on Form 10-D,
Current Reports on Form 8-K and Annual Reports on Form 10-K that are to be
filed with respect to the related SPV pursuant to the Exchange Act.
Master Agreement: The ISDA Master Agreement between the
Counterparty and CHL, or if no such Master Agreement exists, the ISDA Master
Agreement assumed to apply to the Derivative Agreement pursuant to its terms.
Prospectus Supplement: The prospectus supplement prepared in
connection with the public offering and sale of the related Securities.
Regulation AB: Subpart 229.1100 - Asset Backed Securities
(Regulation AB), 17 C.F.R. ss.ss.229.1100-229.1123, as such may be amended from
time to time, and subject to such clarification and interpretation as have
been provided by the Commission in the adopting release (Asset-Backed
Securities, Securities Act Release No. 33-8518, 70 Fed. Reg. 1,506, 1,531
(Jan. 7, 2005)) or by the staff of the Commission, or as may be provided by
the Commission or its staff from time to time.
Securities Act: The Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the
rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
Section 2. Information to be Provided by the Counterparty.
(a) Prior to printing the related Prospectus Supplement,
(i) the Counterparty shall provide to the related Depositor such
information regarding the Counterparty, as a derivative
instrument counterparty, as is reasonably requested by the
related Depositor for the purpose of compliance with Item
1115(a)(1) of Regulation AB. Such information shall include, at a
minimum:
(A) The Counterparty's legal name (and any d/b/a);
(B) the organizational form of the Counterparty;
(C) a description of the general character of the business of the
Counterparty;
(D) a description of any material legal or governmental proceedings
pending (or known to be contemplated) against the Counterparty
which may have a material impact on the Counterparty's ability to
perform under the related Derivative Agreement;
(E) a description of any affiliation or relationship between the
Counterparty and any of the following parties:
(1) CHL (or any other sponsor identified to the Counterparty by
CHL);
(2) the related Depositor (as identified to the Counterparty by
CHL);
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(3) the SPV;
(4) Countrywide Home Loans Servicing LP (or any other servicer
or master servicer identified to the Counterparty by CHL);
(5) The Bank of New York (or any other trustee identified to the
Counterparty by CHL);
(6) any originator identified to the Counterparty by CHL;
(7) any enhancement or support provider identified to the
Counterparty by CHL; and
(8) any other material transaction party identified to the
Counterparty by CHL.
(ii) if requested by the related Depositor for the purpose of
compliance with Item 1115(b) with respect to a Transaction, the
Counterparty shall:
(A) provide the financial data required by Item 1115(b)(1) or
(b)(2) of Regulation AB (as specified by the related
Depositor to the Counterparty) with respect to the
Counterparty (or any entity that consolidates the
Counterparty) and any affiliated entities providing
derivative instruments to the SPV (the "Company Financial
Information"), in a form appropriate for use in the
Prospectus Supplement and in an XXXXX-compatible form; and
(B) if applicable, cause its accountants to issue their consent
to the filing of such financial statements in the
Registration Statement.
(b) Following the Closing Date with respect to a Transaction,
(i) no later than the 25th calendar day of each month, the
Counterparty shall (i) notify the related Depositor in writing of
(A) any material litigation or governmental proceedings pending
against the Counterparty which may have a material impact on the
Counterparty's ability to perform under the related Derivative
Agreement or (B) any affiliations or relationships that develop
following the Closing Date between the Counterparty and any of
the parties specified in Section 2(a)(i)(E) (and any other
parties identified in writing by the related Depositor) and (ii)
provide to the related Depositor a description of such
proceedings, affiliations or relationships as described in
Section 2(b)(i)(I)(i); and
(ii) if the Counterparty provided Company Financial Information to the
related Depositor for the Prospectus Supplement, within 5
Business Days of the release of any updated financial data, the
Counterparty shall (1) provide current Company Financial
Information as required under Item
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1115(b) of Regulation AB to the related Depositor in an
XXXXX-compatible form, and (2) if applicable, cause its
accountants to issue their consent to filing or incorporation by
reference of such financial statements in the Exchange Act
Reports of the SPV;
(iii) if the related Depositor requests Company Financial Information
from the Counterparty, for the purpose of compliance with Item
1115(b) of Regulation AB following the Closing Date, the
Counterparty shall upon five Business Days written notice either
(A), (1) provide current Company Financial Information as
required under Item 1115(b) of Regulation AB to the related
Depositor in an XXXXX-compatible form, (2) if applicable, cause
its accountants to issue their consent to filing or incorporation
by reference of such financial statements in the Exchange Act
Reports of the SPV and (3) within 5 Business Days of the release
of any updated financial data, provide current Company Financial
Information as required under Item 1115(b) of Regulation AB to
the related Depositor in an XXXXX-compatible form and if
applicable, cause its accountants to issue their consent to
filing or incorporation by reference of such financial statements
in the Exchange Act Reports of the SPV or (B) assign the
Derivative Agreement as provided below.
Section 3. Representations and Warranties and Covenants of the Counterparty.
(a) The Counterparty represents and warrants to the related Depositor, as
of the date on which information is first provided to the related
Depositor under Section 2(a)(ii), Section 2(b)(ii) or Section
2(b)(iii)(A), that, except as disclosed in writing the related
Depositor prior to such date:
(i) The accountants who certify the financial statements and
supporting schedules included in the Company Financial
Information (if applicable) are independent registered public
accountants as required by the Securities Act.
(ii) If applicable, the financial statements included in the Company
Financial Information present fairly the consolidated financial
position of the Counterparty (or the entity that consolidates
the Counterparty) and its consolidated subsidiaries as at the
dates indicated and the consolidated results of their
operations and cash flows for the periods specified; except as
otherwise stated in the Company Financial Information, said
financial statements have been prepared in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") applied on a
consistent basis; and the supporting schedules included in the
Company Financial Information present fairly in accordance with
GAAP the information required to be stated therein. The
selected financial data and summary financial information
included in the Company Financial Information present fairly
the information shown therein and have been compiled on a basis
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consistent with that of the audited financial statements of the
Counterparty.
(iii) The Company Financial Information and other Company Information
included or incorporated by reference in the Registration
Statement (including through filing on an Exchange Act Report),
at the time they were or hereafter are filed with the
Commission, complied in all material respects with the
requirements of Item 1115(b) of Regulation AB (in the case of
the Company Financial Information) and, did not and will not
contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state
a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in
order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(b) The Counterparty agrees that the terms of this Agreement shall be
incorporated by reference into any Derivative Agreement so that each
SPV who is a beneficiary of a Derivative Agreement shall be an express
third party beneficiary of this Agreement.
Section 4. Indemnification; Remedies
(a) The Counterparty shall indemnify CHL and the related Depositor, each
person responsible for the preparation, execution or filing of any
report required to be filed with the Commission with respect to such
SPV, or for execution of a certification pursuant to Rule 13a-14(d) or
Rule 15d-14(d) under the Exchange Act; each broker dealer acting as
underwriter, each person who controls any of such parties (within the
meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the
Exchange Act); and the respective present and former directors,
officers, employees and agents of each of the foregoing, and shall
hold each of them harmless from and against any losses, damages,
penalties, fines, forfeitures, legal fees and expenses and related
costs, judgments, and any other costs, fees and expenses that any of
them may sustain arising out of or based upon:
(i) (A) any untrue statement of a material fact contained or alleged
to be contained in any information, report, certification,
accountants' consent or other material provided in written or
electronic form under Section 2 by or on behalf of the
Counterparty (collectively, the "Company Information"), or (B)
the omission or alleged omission to state in the Company
Information a material fact required to be stated in the Company
Information or necessary in order to make the statements therein,
in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading; or
(ii) any breach by the Counterparty of a representation or warranty
set forth in Section 3(a) and made as of a date prior to the
Closing Date, to the extent that such breach is not cured by the
Closing Date, or any breach by the Counterparty of a
representation or warranty pursuant to Section 3 to the extent
made as of a date subsequent to the Closing Date.
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(b) (i) Any failure by the Counterparty to deliver any information,
report, certification, accountants' consent or other material
when and as required under Section 2 or any breach by the
Counterparty of a representation or warranty set forth in
Section 3 and made as of a date prior to the Closing Date, to
the extent that such breach is not cured by the Closing Date
(or in the case of information needed for purposes of printing
the Prospectus Supplement, the date of printing of the
Prospectus Supplement), or any breach by the Counterparty of a
representation or warranty pursuant to Section 3 to the extent
made as of a date subsequent to such closing date, shall,
except as provided in clause (ii) of this paragraph,
immediately and automatically, without notice or grace period,
constitute an Additional Termination Event (as defined in the
Master Agreement) with the Counterparty as the sole Affected
Party (as defined in the Master Agreement) under the Derivative
Agreement. Following such termination, a termination payment
(if any) shall be payable by the applicable party as determined
by the application of Section 6(e)(ii) of the Master Agreement,
with Market Quotation and Second Method being the applicable
method for determining the termination payment (notwithstanding
anything in the Derivative Agreement to the contrary).
(ii) If the Counterparty has failed to deliver any information,
report, certification or accountants' consent when and as
required under Section 2, which continues unremedied for the
lesser of ten calendar days after the date on which such
information, report, certification or accountants' consent was
required to be delivered or such period in which the applicable
Exchange Act Report for which such information is required can
be timely filed (without taking into account any extensions
permitted to be filed), and the Counterparty has not, at its
own cost, within the period in which the applicable Exchange
Act Report for which such information is required can be timely
filed caused another entity (which meets any ratings related
requirement of the applicable rating agencies at such time) to
replace the Counterparty as party to the Derivative Agreement
that (i) has signed an agreement with CHL and the Depositors
substantially in the form of this Agreement, (ii) has agreed to
deliver any information, report, certification or accountants'
consent when and as required under Section 2 hereof and (iii)
is approved by the Depositor (which approval shall not be
unreasonably withheld and which approval is not needed if such
assignment is to a subsidiary of The Bear Xxxxxxx Companies,
Inc., provided the Depositor is given notice) and any rating
agency, if applicable, on terms substantially similar to the
Derivative Agreement, then an Additional Termination Event (as
defined in the Master Agreement) shall have occurred with the
Counterparty as the sole Affected Party. Following such
termination, a termination payment (if any) shall be payable by
the applicable party as determined by the application of
Section 6(e)(ii) of the Master Agreement, with Market Quotation
and Second Method being the applicable method for
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determining the termination payment (notwithstanding anything
in the Derivative Agreement to the contrary).
(iii) In the event that the Counterparty or the SPV has found a
replacement entity in accordance with Section 2(b)(ii), the
Counterparty shall promptly reimburse the SPV for all
reasonable incidental expenses incurred by the SPV, as such are
incurred, in connection with the termination of the
Counterparty as counterparty and the entry into a new
Derivative Instrument. The provisions of this paragraph shall
not limit whatever rights the SPV may have under other
provisions of this Agreement or otherwise, whether in equity or
at law, such as an action for damages, specific performance or
injunctive relief.
Section 5. Miscellaneous.
(a) Construction. Throughout this Agreement, as the context requires,
(a) the singular tense and number includes the plural, and the
plural tense and number includes the singular; (b) the past tense
includes the present, and the present tense includes the past;
and (c) references to parties, sections, schedules, and exhibits
mean the parties, sections, schedules, and exhibits of and to
this Agreement. The section headings in this Agreement are
inserted only as a matter of convenience, and in no way define,
limit, extend, or interpret the scope of this Agreement or of any
particular section.
(b) Assignment. None of the parties may assign their rights under
this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other
parties. Subject to the foregoing, this Agreement shall be
binding on and inure to the benefit of the parties and their
respective successors and permitted assigns.
(c) No Third-Party Benefits Except as Specified. None of the
provisions of this Agreement are intended to benefit, or to be
enforceable by, any third-party beneficiaries except the related
SPV and any trustee of an SPV or any Administrator.
(d) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed
in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York
without regard to the conflict of laws principles thereof.
(e) Amendment and Waiver. This Agreement may not be modified or
amended except by an instrument in writing signed by the parties
hereto. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement or of any
rights or obligations of any party under this Agreement shall be
effective unless in writing and signed by the party or parties
waiving compliance, and shall be effective only in the specific
instance and for the specific purpose stated in that writing.
(f) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all
of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
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(g) Additional Documents. Each party hereto agrees to execute any and
all further documents and writings and to perform such other
actions which may be or become necessary or expedient to
effectuate and carry out this Agreement.
(h) Severability. Any provision hereof which is prohibited or
unenforceable shall be ineffective only to the extent of such
prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the
remaining provisions hereof.
(i) Integration. This Agreement contains the entire understanding of
the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof. There are
no restrictions, agreements, promises, representations,
warranties, covenants or undertakings with respect to the subject
matter hereof other than those expressly set forth or referred to
herein. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and
understandings between the parties with respect to its subject
matter.
(j) CHL agrees to provide to the Counterparty prior to January 30,
2006 the methodology for its estimate of maximum probable
exposure represented by the Derivative Agreements and then to
provide notice of any changes to the methodology.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused their names to
be signed hereto by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized as of
the day and year first above written.
CWABS, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxx
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Name: Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Title: Vice President
CWMBS, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxx
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Name: Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Title: Vice President
CWALT, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxx
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Name: Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Title: Vice President
CWHEQ, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxx
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Name: Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Title: Vice President
COUNTRYWIDE HOME LOANS, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxx
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Name: Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Title: Vice President
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BEAR XXXXXXX FINANCIAL PRODUCTS INC.
By: /s/ F. Xxxxx Xxxxxx
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Name: F. Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Title: DPC Manager
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