AUCTION AGREEMENT between as Trustee and THE BANK OF NEW YORK as Auction Agent Dated as of September 20, 2007 Relating to THE NATIONAL COLLEGIATE STUDENT LOAN TRUST 2007-3 Student Loan Asset Backed Notes Consisting of Class A-2-AR-1 Notes, Class...
EXHIBIT
99.3
EXECUTION
VERSION
between
U.S.
BANK
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
as
Trustee
and
THE
BANK
OF NEW YORK
as
Auction Agent
Dated
as
of September 20, 2007
Relating
to
$764,000,000
Student
Loan Asset Backed Notes
Consisting
of
Class
A-2-AR-1 Notes, Class A-2-AR-3 Notes, Class A-2-AR-4 Notes,
Class
A-3-AR-1 Notes, Class A-3-AR-2 Notes, Class A-3-AR-3 Notes, Class A-3-AR-4
Notes, Class A-3-AR-5 Notes, Class A-3-AR-6 Notes and Class A-3-AR-7
Notes
TABLE
OF
CONTENTS
1.
|
Definitions
and Rules of Construction.
|
|
1.1
Terms Defined by Reference to the Auction Procedures.
|
||
1.2
Additional Terms Defined Herein.
|
||
1.3
Rules of Construction.
|
||
2.
|
The
Auction.
|
|
2.1
Purpose; Incorporation by Reference of Auction
Procedures.
|
||
2.2
Preparation for Each Auction; Maintenance of Registry of Existing
Owners;
and Redemptions.
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||
2.3
|
Public
Dissemination of Auction Results.
|
|
2.4
|
Notices
to Existing Owners.
|
|
2.5
|
Broker-Dealers.
|
|
2.6
|
Access
to and Maintenance of Auction Records.
|
|
2.7
|
Membership
in the Securities Depository.
|
|
2.8
|
Reserved.
|
|
2.9
|
Reserved.
|
|
2.10
|
Payment
Defaults.
|
|
3.
|
The
Auction-Agent.
|
|
3.1
|
Duties
and Responsibilities.
|
|
3.2
|
Rights
of the Auction Agent.
|
|
3.3
|
Auction
Agent’s Disclaimer.
|
|
3.4
|
Compensation,
Expenses and Indemnification Relating to the Auction
Agent.
|
|
3.5
|
Compensation
of the Broker-Dealers.
|
|
3.6
|
Ratings
Changes.
|
|
4.
|
Miscellaneous.
|
|
4.1
|
Terms
of Agreement.
|
|
4.2
|
Issuer’s
Obligations.
|
|
4.3
|
Communications.
|
|
4.4
|
Entire
Agreement.
|
|
4.5
|
Benefits.
|
|
4.6
|
Amendment;
Waiver; Successors and Assigns.
|
|
4.7
|
Severability.
|
|
4.8
|
Execution
in Counterparts.
|
|
4.9
|
Governing
Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Trial by
Jury.
|
|
4.10
|
Duties
and Responsibilities of the
Trustee.
|
EXHIBIT
A
AUCTION
PROCEDURES
EXHIBIT
B
FORM
OF
BROKER-DEALER AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT
C
LIST
OF
INITIAL BROKER-DEALERS
This
AUCTION AGREEMENT, dated as of September 20, 2007 (this “Agreement”), between
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association, as Trustee
(the
“Trustee”) pursuant to the Indenture dated as of September 20, 2007 (the
“Indenture”), between THE NATIONAL COLLEGIATE STUDENT LOAN TRUST 2007-3, a
Delaware statutory Issuer (the “Issuer”), and the Trustee, and THE BANK OF NEW
YORK, a New York banking corporation, as auction agent (together with its
successors and assigns, the “Auction Agent”).
W
I T N E
S S E T H:
WHEREAS,
the Issuer is issuing $764,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its Student
Loan Asset Backed Notes, consisting of an aggregate principal amount of
$94,200,000 with respect to the Class A-2-AR-1 Notes, $94,200,000 with respect
to the Class A-2-AR-2 Notes, $94,200,000 with respect to the Class A-2-AR-3
Notes, $31,400,000 with respect to the Class A-2-AR-4 Notes, $67,500,000 with
respect to the Class A-3-AR-1 Notes, $67,500,000 with respect to the Class
A-3-AR-2 Notes, $67,500,000 with respect to the Class A-3-AR-3 Notes,
$67,500,000 with respect to the Class A-3-AR-4 Notes, $67,500,000
with respect to the Class A-3-AR-5 Notes, and $67,500,000 with respect to the
Class A-3-AR-6 Notes, $45,000,000 with respect to the Class A-3-AR-7 Notes
(the
“Bonds”) the proceeds of which will be provided to the Issuer;
WHEREAS,
the Bonds will initially be issued as auction rate securities;
WHEREAS,
the Trustee, as authorized and directed under the Indenture, is entering into
this Agreement as agent for the beneficial owners of the Bonds;
WHEREAS,
the Auction Agent will perform certain duties set forth in Exhibit A, including
Schedule I thereto, attached hereto (the “Auction Procedures”);
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein
and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which
are hereby acknowledged, the Trustee and the Auction Agent agree as
follows:
1.
|
Definitions
and Rules of
Construction.
|
1.1
|
Terms
Defined by Reference to the Auction
Procedures.
|
Capitalized
terms not defined herein shall have the respective meanings specified in the
Auction Procedures.
1.2
|
Additional
Terms Defined Herein.
|
Certain
terms used herein are defined in the recitals to this Agreement. In
addition, as used herein, the following terms shall have the following meanings,
unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) “Auction
Agent Acceptance Fee” means an acceptance fee, if any, as set forth in a written
agreement signed or entered into by the Auction Agent and the
Issuer.
(b) “Auction
Agent Fee” means the fees, other than the Auction Agent Acceptance Fee, set
forth in a written agreement signed or entered into by the Auction Agent and
the
Issuer.
(c) “Authorized
Officer” means each Managing Director, Vice President, Assistant Vice President
and Assistant Treasurer, authorized representative of the Auction Agent assigned
to the Dealing and Trading Group of the Corporate Trust Department and every
other officer or employee of the Auction Agent designated as an “Authorized
Officer” for purposes hereof in a written communication from the Auction Agent
signed by an Authorized Officer and delivered to the Trustee.
(d) “Authorized
Trustee Representative” means each Senior Vice President, Vice President,
Assistant Vice President, Assistant Treasurer of the Trustee and every other
officer or employee of the Trustee designated as an “Authorized Trustee
Representative” for purposes hereof in a written communication signed by an
Authorized Trustee Representative and delivered to the Auction
Agent.
(e) “Broker-Dealer
Agreement” means each agreement between the Auction Agent and a Broker-Dealer
substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B.
(f) “Broker-Dealer
Fee Rate” means the rate per annum at which the fees to be paid to the
Broker-Dealers for the services rendered by them under the Broker-Dealer
Agreements in connection with the Auctions accrue pursuant to Section 2.5 of
the
Broker-Dealer Agreement.
(g) “Existing
Owner Registry” means the register maintained by the Auction Agent pursuant to
Section 2.2(a)(i).
(h) “Participant”
of any Person means the member of, or participant in, the Securities Depository
that will act on behalf of an Existing Owner or Potential Owner.
1.3
|
Rules
of Construction.
|
Unless
the context or use indicates another or different meaning or intent, the
following rules shall apply to the construction of this Agreement:
(a) Words
importing the singular number shall include the plural number and vice
versa.
(b) The
captions and headings herein are solely for convenience of reference and shall
neither constitute a part of this Agreement nor affect its meaning, construction
or effect.
(c) The
words
“hereof,” “herein,” “hereto,” and other words of similar import refer to this
Agreement as a whole and not to any particular section or other
subdivision.
(d) All
references herein to a particular time of day shall be to New York City
time.
(e) All
references herein to Sections or Exhibits are to Sections of or Exhibits to
this
Agreement unless the context otherwise indicates.
(f) Any
reference to Bonds shall be deemed to be a reference to each series of
Bonds. References herein to an Auction and the Auction Procedures
shall apply separately to each series of Bonds.
2.
|
The
Auction.
|
2.1
|
Purpose;
Incorporation by Reference of Auction
Procedures.
|
(a) The
Indenture provides that the interest rate on the Bonds for each Auction Period
after the Initial Period, except as provided in Section 2.04 of the Auction
Procedures, shall equal the Auction Rate that an Auction Agent appointed by
the
Trustee determines to have resulted from implementation of the Auction
Procedures. The Trustee, at the written direction of the Issuer,
hereby appoints The Bank of New York as Auction Agent for purposes of the
Auction Procedures and to perform such other obligations and duties as are
set
forth herein and in each Broker-Dealer Agreement, in each case, specified to
be
performed by the Auction Agent. The Auction Agent hereby accepts such
appointment as Auction Agent and agrees that, on each Auction Date after the
Initial Period, it shall follow the procedures set forth in the Auction
Procedures for the purpose of, among other things, determining the Auction
Period Rate for each Auction Period.
(b) Subject
to Section 4.1(a), all of the provisions contained in the Auction Procedures
are
incorporated herein by reference in their entirety and shall be deemed to be
a
part hereof to the same extent as if such provisions were fully set forth
herein. No amendment to the Auction Procedures shall be effective
without the consent of the parties hereto.
2.2
|
Preparation
for Each Auction; and Maintenance of Registry of Existing
Owners.
|
(a) Prior
to
each Auction Date in which a Broker-Dealer will participate, the Issuer shall
provide the Auction Agent with a manually signed Broker-Dealer Agreement
executed by such Broker-Dealer, if not previously so provided. The
Auction Agent shall maintain a current registry of Persons that are Existing
Owners, which shall for this purpose be the Broker-Dealers (such registry being
herein called the “Existing Owner Registry”). Such Persons shall
constitute the Existing Owners for purposes of each Auction. The
Auction Agent may conclusively rely upon, as evidence of the identities of
the
Existing Owners, (i) the results of each Auction, and (ii) notices from any
Existing Owner as described in the first sentence of Section
2.2(b).
(b) The
Auction Agent shall register in the Existing Owner Registry a transfer of Bonds
from an Existing Owner to another Person only if (i) such transfer is pursuant
to an Auction or (ii) if such transfer is made other than pursuant to an
Auction, the Auction Agent has been notified in writing, which may be in
Electronic Means acceptable to the Auction Agent, by the Existing Owner that
is
the transferor of such transfer. The Auction Agent is not required to
accept any notice of transfer delivered prior to an Auction unless it is
received by the Auction Agent by 11:00 a.m. on the Auction Date on which
the applicable Auction is taking place.
2.3
|
Public
Dissemination of Auction
Results.
|
The
Auction Agent, unless instructed otherwise by the Issuer, is authorized (but
not
required) to release the Auction Rate after each Auction for public
dissemination.
2.4
|
Notices
to Existing Owners.
|
The
Auction Agent shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon the address of each
Existing Owner as such address is delivered by such Existing Owner in connection
with any notice to Existing Owner required to be given by the Auction
Agent.
2.5
|
Broker-Dealers.
|
(a) If
the
Auction Agent is provided with a copy of a Broker-Dealer Agreement, which has
been manually signed with any Broker-Dealer listed on Exhibit C hereto, then,
subject to Section 2.5(b), the Auction Agent shall enter into such Broker-Dealer
Agreement with such Person.
(b) The
Auction Agent may, at the written direction of the Issuer, enter into a
Broker-Dealer Agreement with any other Person who requests to be selected to
act
as a Broker-Dealer. The Auction Agent shall enter into a
Broker-Dealer Agreement with each Broker-Dealer prior to the participation
of
any such Broker-Dealer in any Auction. The Auction Agent shall only
be required to enter into a Broker-Dealer Agreement if such Broker-Dealer
Agreement is in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit B and has
been
duly executed and delivered by the proposed Broker-Dealer. The
Auction Agent shall also be entitled to request and receive from each
Broker-Dealer an incumbency and specimen signatures certificate with respect
to
representatives of such Broker-Dealer who are authorized to act on behalf of
such Broker-Dealer in regards to the Auction Procedures and the matters covered
thereby, hereby and the related Broker-Dealer Agreement. The Auction
Agent may refuse to act upon any direction from such representative if such
certificate has not been submitted.
(c) The
Auction Agent shall terminate any Broker-Dealer Agreement as set forth therein
if so directed by the Trustee in writing, the Trustee acting at the written
direction of the Issuer(of which a copy shall be provided to the Auction
Agent).
2.6
|
Access
to and Maintenance of Auction
Records.
|
The
Auction Agent shall afford to the Trustee and the Issuer, and their respective
agents, independent public accountants and counsel, upon prior reasonable
notice, access at reasonable times during normal business hours to review and
make extracts or copies (in all cases at the Issuer’s sole cost and expense) of
all books, records, documents and other information concerning the conduct
and
results of Auctions, provided that any such agent, accountant, or counsel shall
furnish the Auction Agent with a letter from the Trustee or the Issuer
requesting that the Auction Agent afford such Person access. The
Auction Agent shall maintain records relating to any Auction for a period of
at
least two years after such Auction (unless requested by the Issuer to maintain
such records for a longer period, or for such longer period as may be required
by the Auction Agent's internal policies and procedures, or applicable law
or
regulation, then for such longer period), and such records shall, in reasonable
detail, accurately and fairly reflect the actions taken by the Auction Agent
hereunder. The Trustee agrees to keep any information regarding the
customers of any Broker-Dealer received from the Auction Agent in connection
with this Agreement or any Auction confidential and shall not disclose such
information or permit the disclosure of such information without the prior
written consent of the applicable Broker-Dealer to anyone unless required to
do
so by any rule or regulation except such agent, accountant or counsel engaged
to
audit or review the results of Auctions, or to its internal and external
auditors and counsel, its regulators and examiners and any other Person if
the
Trustee has been advised by its counsel that it may be liable for a failure
to
effect such disclosure or if ordered to do so pursuant to a subpoena, civil
investigative demand or similar demand by a court of competent jurisdiction
or
regulatory, judicial, quasi-judicial agent or authority having the authority
to
mandate such disclosure. Any such agent, accountant or counsel
engaged to audit or review the results of Auctions, before having access to
such
information, shall agree to keep such information confidential and not to
disclose such information or permit disclosure of such information without
the
prior written consent of the applicable Broker-Dealer, except as may otherwise
be required by law. The Auction Agent shall not be responsible for
any actions of the Trustee, the Issuer, or their respective agents, accountants
or counsel for passing on confidential information as a result of access to
records of the Auction Agent.
2.7
|
Membership
in the Securities Depository.
|
As
of the
date hereof, the Auction Agent is a member of, or participant in, the Securities
Depository. The Auction Agent will provide the Trustee and the Issuer
with notice at least 90 days prior to the date, if any, on which it shall resign
as a member of, or participant in, the Securities Depository.
2.8
|
Reserved.
|
2.9
|
Reserved.
|
2.10
|
Payment
Defaults.
|
(a) The
Auction Agent shall deliver a copy of any notice received by it from the Trustee
to the effect that a payment default on the Bonds has occurred to the
Broker-Dealers on the Business Day of the receipt thereof or as soon as
practicable thereafter by Electronic Means.
(b) The
Auction Agent shall deliver a copy of any notice received by it from the Trustee
to the effect that a payment default on the Bonds has been cured to the
Broker-Dealers on the Business Day of its receipt thereof or as soon as
practicable thereafter by Electronic Means.
(c) If
a
payment default on the Bonds shall have occurred and be continuing, the Auction
Procedures shall be suspended and the Auction Agent shall cease performance
of
its duties under this Agreement until the Trustee notifies it in writing that
such payment default has been cured (in accordance with the provisions of the
Indenture.
3.
|
The
Auction Agent.
|
3.1
|
Duties
and Responsibilities.
|
(a) The
Auction Agent is acting solely as a non-fiduciary agent for the Trustee
hereunder and owes no duties, fiduciary or otherwise, to any other Person except
as otherwise expressly provided in Section 4.5, and no implied duties, fiduciary
or otherwise, shall be read into this Agreement against the Auction
Agent.
(b) The
Auction Agent undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are
specifically set forth in this Agreement or incorporated herein by reference
from the Auction Procedures or a Broker-Dealer Agreement, and no implied
covenants or obligations shall be read into this Agreement or the Auction
Procedures against the Auction Agent.
(c) In
the
absence of willful misconduct or gross negligence on its part, as determined
by
a court of competent jurisdiction, the Auction Agent, whether acting directly
or
through agents or attorneys as provided in Section 3.2(d) hereof, shall not
be
liable for any action taken, suffered or omitted or for any error of judgment
made by it in the performance of its duties under this Agreement. The
Auction Agent shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith
unless the Auction Agent shall have been grossly negligent in ascertaining
(or
failing to ascertain) the pertinent facts necessary to make such judgment as
determined by a court of competent jurisdiction.
(d) The
Auction Agent shall not be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in
the
performance of its obligation under this Agreement arising out of or caused,
directly or indirectly, by circumstances beyond its reasonable control,
including, without limitation, acts of God; earthquakes; fire; flood; wars;
acts
of terrorism; civil or military disturbances; sabotage; epidemic; riots;
interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, computer (hardware or
software) or communications services; accidents; labor disputes; acts of civil
or military authority or governmental action; it being understood that the
Auction Agent shall use commercially reasonable efforts which are consistent
with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon
as
reasonably practicable under the circumstances.
(e) The
Auction Agent shall not be: (i) required to and does not make any
representations nor have any responsibilities as to the validity, accuracy,
value or genuineness of any signatures or endorsements, other than its own,
on
any document delivered pursuant to or as contemplated by this Auction Agreement
or any Broker-Dealer Agreement; (ii) obligated to take any legal action
hereunder that might, in its judgment, involve any expenses or liability, unless
it has been furnished with indemnity satisfactory to the Auction Agent; and
(iii) responsible for or liable in any respect on account of the identity,
authority or rights of any Person executing or delivering or purporting to
execute or deliver any document under this Auction Agreement or any
Broker-Dealer Agreement.
(f) Anything
in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in no event shall the Auction
Agent be liable for special, indirect, punitive or consequential damage (or
loss) of any kind whatsoever (including but not limited to lost profits), even
if the Auction Agent has been advised of the likelihood of such damage (or
loss)
and regardless of the form of action.
3.2
|
Rights
of the Auction Agent.
|
(a) The
Auction Agent may conclusively rely and shall be fully protected in acting
or
refraining from acting upon any communication authorized hereby and upon any
written instruction, notice, request, direction, consent, report, certificate,
security certificate or other instrument, paper or document or communication
believed by it to be genuine. The Auction Agent shall not be liable
for acting upon any communication made by telephone, Electronic Means or other
means acceptable to the parties and authorized hereby which the Auction Agent
believes (or has no reason not to believe) to have been given by the Trustee,
a
Broker-Dealer, the Issuer or the Securities Depository. The Auction
Agent may record telephone communications with the Issuer, the Issuer, the
Trustee or with the Broker-Dealers or any one or more of them.
(b) The
Auction Agent may consult with counsel of its choice, and the advice of such
counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect
of
any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in
reliance thereon.
(c) The
Auction Agent shall not be required to advance, expend or risk its own funds
or
otherwise incur or become exposed to financial liability in the performance
of
its duties hereunder.
(d) The
Auction Agent may perform its duties and exercise its rights hereunder either
directly or by or through agents or attorneys and shall not be responsible
for
misconduct or negligence on the part of, or for the supervision of, any agent
or
attorney appointed by it with due care hereunder.
(e) The
Auction Agent shall have no obligation to monitor or liability in respect of
the
registration or exemption therefrom of the Bonds (or any beneficial ownership
interest therein) under federal or state securities laws in respect of the
sufficiency or the conformity of any transfer of the Bonds (or any beneficial
ownership interest therein) pursuant to the terms of the Auction Agreement,
any
Broker-Dealer Agreement, the Indenture or any other document contemplated by
any
thereof, including, but not limited to, compliance with such laws in regards
to
any such transfer.
(f) (i)
Any
corporation or other entity into which the Auction Agent may be merged or
converted or with which it may be consolidated, or (ii) any corporation or
other
entity resulting from any merger, conversion, or consolidation to which the
Auction Agent shall be a party, or (iii) any corporation or other entity
succeeding to all or substantially all of the auction agent business of the
Auction Agent shall be the successor of the Auction Agent hereunder without
the
execution or filing of any paper with any party hereto or any further act on
the
part of any of the parties hereto, except where any instrument of transfer
or
assignment is required by law to effect such succession, anything herein to
the
contrary notwithstanding.
3.3
|
Auction
Agent’s Disclaimer.
|
Each
of
the Auction Agent and the Trustee makes no representation as to, and shall
have
no liability with respect to, the correctness of the recitals in, or the
validity with respect to parties other than the Auction Agent or the Trustee,
as
the case may be, or the accuracy or adequacy of this Agreement, the
Broker-Dealer Agreement, the Indenture, the Bonds or any offering material
used
in connection with the offer and sale of the Bonds or any other agreement or
instrument executed in connection with the transactions contemplated herein
or
in any thereof.
3.4
|
Compensation,
Expenses and Indemnification Relating to the Auction
Agent.
|
(a) The
Issuer shall pay (i) the Auction Agent Acceptance Fee on the date of payment
for
and delivery of the Bonds, (ii) the Auction Agent Fee for the Bonds on the
Closing Date or as mutually agreed upon and annually on the anniversary of
the
Closing Date thereafter, and (iii) upon request of the Auction Agent, reasonable
expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Auction Agent
in
accordance with this Agreement and any Broker-Dealer Agreement (including the
compensation, expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except
any
expense, disbursement or advance attributable to the gross negligence or willful
misconduct of the Auction Agent. The Auction Agent Fee represents
compensation for the services of the Auction Agent in conducting
Auctions. The Auction Agent Fee may be adjusted from time to time
with the approval of the Issuer upon a written request of the Auction Agent
delivered to the Issuer.
(b) The
Issuer shall indemnify the Auction Agent, its directors, officers, agents and
employees, for, and hold it and each of them harmless against any loss,
liability or expense incurred without willful misconduct or gross negligence
on
its part arising out of or in connection with its agency under this Agreement
and the Broker-Dealer Agreements, or the transactions contemplated hereby or
thereby, including the costs and expenses of defending itself, its directors,
officers, agents and employees, against any claim or liability in connection
with its exercise or performance of any of its duties hereunder or
thereunder.
(c) This
Section 3.4 shall survive the termination of this Agreement, the satisfaction
and discharge of the Bonds and the earlier removal or resignation of the Auction
Agent.
3.5
|
Compensation
of the Broker-Dealers.
|
On
each
Interest Payment Date, the Auction Agent shall pay the Broker-Dealer Fee out
of
funds provided to it for that purpose by the Issuer or Trustee payable to each
Broker-Dealer on such Interest Payment Date, as provided in Section 2.5 of
the
Broker-Dealer Agreements.
3.6
|
Ratings
Changes.
|
Upon
the
Trustee’s receipt of written notification of a ratings change by the Ratings
Agencies then rating the Bonds, the Trustee shall send to the Auction Agent
written notice of such change.
4.
|
Miscellaneous.
|
4.1
|
Terms
of Agreement.
|
(a) This
Agreement shall terminate on the earlier of (i) the date on which the Bonds
are
no longer subject to the Auction Procedures and (ii) the date on which this
Agreement is terminated in accordance with this Section 4.1. The
Auction Agent may terminate this Agreement upon written notice to the Trustee,
the Issuer, the Note Insurer and the Issuer on the date specified in such
notice, which date shall be no earlier than 60 days after the date of delivery
of such notice. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this
Agreement (except as provided in Section 4.1(b) below) shall terminate upon
the
delivery of certificates representing the Bonds pursuant to Section 2.08(c)
of
the Auction Procedures. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Auction
Agent may terminate this Agreement upon 30 days’ prior written notice to the
Issuer, the Note Insurer, and the Trustee if it has not received payment of
any
Auction Agent Fee or Auction Agent Acceptance Fee due in accordance with Section
3.4(a) hereof for more than 30 days. The Auction Agent may be removed
at any time by the Trustee if the Auction Agent is an entity other than the
Trustee, acting at the written direction of the (i) Issuer or (ii) the Holders
of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the Bonds by an instrument
signed by the Trustee and filed with the Auction Agent and the Issuer upon
at
least 90 days notice; provided that an agreement in substantially the form
of
the Auction Agency Agreement shall be entered into with a successor Auction
Agent. If the Auction Agent and the Trustee are the same entity, the
Auction Agent may be removed as described above, with the Issuer acting in
lieu
of the Trustee.
(b) Except
as
otherwise provided in this Section 4.1(b), the respective rights and duties
of
the Trustee and the Auction Agent under this Agreement shall cease upon
termination of this Agreement. The obligations of the Issuer to the
Auction Agent under Section 3.4 shall survive the termination of this
Agreement. Upon termination of this Agreement, the Broker-Dealer
Agreements shall automatically terminate and the Auction Agent shall (i)
promptly deliver to the Issuer copies of all books and records maintained by
it
in connection with its duties hereunder if so requested in writing, and (ii)
at
the request of the Issuer or Trustee promptly transfer to the Trustee or any
successor Auction Agent any funds deposited by the Issuer with the Auction
Agent
pursuant to this Agreement which have not previously been distributed by the
Auction Agent in accordance with this Agreement.
4.2
|
Issuer’s
Obligations.
|
Notwithstanding
anything herein to the contrary, the Issuer’s and Trustee’s payment obligations
hereunder are payable as additional required payments under the
Indenture.
4.3
|
Communications.
|
Except
for communications authorized to be made by Electronic Means pursuant to this
Agreement or the Auction Procedures all notices, requests and other
communications to any party hereunder shall be in writing (which may be by
facsimile) and shall be given to such party addressed to it at its address,
facsimile number or email address set forth below and, where appropriate,
reference the particular Auction to which such notice relates:
If
to the Trustee, addressed:
|
U.S.
Bank National Association
Xxx
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 0xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: The
National Collegiate Student Loan Trust 2007-3
Telephone:
(000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000)
000-0000
|
If
to the Auction Agent, addressed:
|
The
Bank of New York
000
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 0X
Xxx
Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Corporate
Trust Department – Dealing & Trading Group
Telephone: (000)
000-0000
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
|
If
to the Broker-Dealer, addressed:
|
With
respect to Banc of Americas Securities LLC:
Banc
of America Securities LLC
000
Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx
XX0-000-00-00
Xxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention:
Auction Rate Desk
Telephone
Number: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
E-Mail:
xxxxx.x.xxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
With
respect to Citigroup Global Markets Inc.:
Citigroup
Global Markets Inc.
000
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Student
Loan Group
Telephone: (000)
000-0000
Facsimile: (000)
000-0000
With
respect to Xxxxxxx, Sachs & Co.:
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxx & Co.
00
Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx
00000
Attention:
Municipal Money Market Desk - PARS Trading
Telephone
Number: (000)
000-0000
Facsimile:
(000)
000-0000
E-mail:
xx-xxxx@xx.xxx
With
respect to UBS Securities LLC:
UBS Securities LLC
0000
Xxxxxx xx xxx
Xxxxxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx
00000
Attention:
Short-Term Trading Desk
Telephone:
(000)
000-0000
Facsimile:
(000)
000-0000
E-mail:
xxxxxxxxxxx.xxxx@xxx.xxx
|
If
to the Issuer, addressed:
|
c/o
Wilmington Trust Company, as Owner Trustee
Xxxxxx
Square North
0000
Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx,
XX 00000,
Attention:
Corporate Trust Administration
Telephone: (000)
000-0000
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
with
a copy to:
The
First Marblehead Corporation
The
Prudential Tower, 000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000-0000
Attention:
Controller, with a copy to Corporate Law Department
|
If
to the Note Insurer, addressed:
|
Ambac
Assurance Corporation
Xxx
Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx, 00xx
Xxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention:
Student Loan Group - CABS
Telephone:
(000) 000-0000
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
|
or
such
other address, facsimile number or email address as such party may hereafter
specify for such purpose by notice to the other party. Each such
notice, request or communication shall be effective when delivered at the
address specified herein. Communications shall be given on behalf of
the Trustee by an Authorized Trustee Representative and on behalf of the Auction
Agent by an Authorized Officer.
4.4
|
Entire
Agreement.
|
This
Agreement contains the entire agreement between the parties and the Issuer
relating to the subject matter hereof, and there are no other representations,
endorsements, promises, agreements or understandings, oral, written or inferred
between the parties hereto and the Issuer relating to the subject matter
hereof.
4.5
|
Benefits.
|
Nothing
herein, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the Trustee,
the Auction Agent and their respective successors and assigns, any benefit
of
any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim hereunder. The Issuer
and Ambac are intended third-party beneficiary of the obligations of the Auction
Agent hereunder, and such obligations create a duty in the Trustee and the
Auction Agent to the Issuer and Ambac to perform such obligations, and the
Issuer shall have the right to enforce such duty.
4.6
|
Amendment;
Waiver; Successors and Assigns.
|
(a) This
Agreement shall not be deemed or construed to be modified, amended, rescinded,
canceled or waived, in whole or in part, except by a written instrument signed
by a duly authorized representative of the party to be charged; provided,
however, that the prior written consent of an affected third party shall be
obtained if the modification, amendment, rescission, cancellation or waiver
would affect provisions expressly related to the affected third
party.
(b) Failure
of either party hereto to exercise any right or remedy hereunder in the event
of
a breach hereof by the other party or the Issuer shall not constitute a waiver
of any such right or remedy with respect to any subsequent breach.
(c) The
Auction Agent may, but shall have no obligation to, execute any amendment or
waiver which, in its sole determination, affects its rights, powers, immunities
or indemnities hereunder.
(d) This
Agreement shall be binding upon, inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable
by,
the respective successors and permitted assigns of each of the Trustee and
the
Auction Agent. This Agreement may not be assigned by either party
hereto absent the prior written consent of the other party, which consent shall
not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, except that the Trustee may assign
or
transfer this Agreement to a successor trustee under the Indenture without
the
Auction Agent’s prior written consent and the Auction Agent may assign or
transfer this Agreement to a successor Auction Agent pursuant to Section 3.2(f)
hereof, without the Trustee's prior written consent.
4.7
|
Severability.
|
If
any
clause, provision or section hereof shall be ruled invalid or unenforceable
by
any court of competent jurisdiction, the invalidity or unenforceability of
such
clause, provision or section shall not affect any of the remaining clauses,
provisions or sections hereof.
4.8
|
Execution
in Counterparts.
|
This
Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be an
original and all of which shall constitute but one and the same
instrument.
4.9
|
Governing
Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Trial by
Jury.
|
This
Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of
the
State of New York, (including, without limitation, Sections 5-1401 and 5-1402
of
the New York General Obligations Law or any successor to such statute) without
regard to conflict of laws principles. THE PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT
AGREE THAT ALL ACTIONS AND PROCEEDINGS ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY
OF
THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY SHALL BE BROUGHT IN A NEW YORK STATE COURT
OR THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT, IN EACH CASE, IN THE COUNTY AND STATE
OF
NEW YORK AND, IN CONNECTION WITH ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SUBMIT TO THE
EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF, AND VENUE IN, SUCH COURT. TO THE EXTENT
PERMITTED BY LAW, EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO ALSO IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL RIGHT
TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM ARISING OUT OF THIS
AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
4.10
|
Duties
and Responsibilities of the
Trustee.
|
(a) The
Trustee is entering into and delivering this Agreement, not in its individual
capacity but solely as the Trustee under the Indenture, in the exercise of
the
powers and authority conferred and vested in it by the Indenture and is acting
hereunder solely as agent for the owners and beneficial owners of the Bonds
in
its capacity as the Trustee under the Indenture, and owes no duties, fiduciary
or otherwise, to any other Person by reason of this Agreement, and no implied
duties, fiduciary or otherwise, shall be read into this Agreement.
(b) The
Trustee undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are expressly
set forth herein, or expressly incorporated herein by reference pursuant to
Section 2.1 hereof, to be performed by it, and no implied covenants or
obligations shall be read into this Agreement against the Trustee.
(c) The
Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered, or omitted or for
any error of judgment made by it in the performance of its duties except as
provided in Article VI of the Indenture. The Trustee shall have the
same rights, protections, immunities and indemnities in acting hereunder, as
afforded to it in the Indenture. The Trustee shall not have any
obligation to pay the fees, costs or expenses (including any indemnity payments)
of the Auction Agent or any Broker-Dealer.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Auction Agreement to be
duly executed and delivered by their proper and duly authorized representatives
as of the date first above written.
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee | |||
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxx | |||
Authorized Trustee Representative |
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Auction Agreement to be
duly executed and delivered by their proper and duly authorized representatives
as of the date first above written.
THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as Auction Agent | |||
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxx | |||
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxx | |||
Title: Assistant Vice President |
The
Issuer hereby, in accordance with Section 2.1 hereof, directs the Trustee to
appoint The Bank of New York as Auction Agent pursuant to this Agreement, and
requests and directs the Auction Agent to enter into a Broker-Dealer Agreement
with Banc of America Securities LLC, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Xxxxxxx,
Sachs & Co. and UBS Securities LLC, each as a Broker-Dealer for the
Bonds. The Issuer hereby makes the representations and warranties set
forth in Indenture. The Issuer acknowledges and agrees to its
obligations hereunder, including but not limited to such obligations under
Sections 3.4 and 3.5 hereof.
By:
|
WILMINGTON
TRUST COMPANY,
not
in its individual capacity but solely as Owner Trustee
|
|
By:
|
/s/
Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
|
|
Name:
Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
|
||
Title: Vice
President
|
||
EXHIBIT
A
AUCTION
PROCEDURES
Unless
otherwise provided herein, the provisions of this Appendix B shall apply
separately to the Class A-2-AR Notes and the Class A-3-AR Notes, each
constituting Auction Rate Notes (“Auction Rate Notes”).
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
|
|
Definitions
|
|
ARTICLE
II
|
Auction
Procedures
|
Section
2.01.
|
Orders
by Existing Owners and Potential Owners
|
Section
2.02.
|
Submission
of Orders by Broker-Dealers to Auction Agent
|
Section
2.03.
|
Treatment
of Orders by the Auction Agent
|
Section
2.04.
|
Determination
of Auction Period Rate
|
Section
2.05.
|
Allocation
of Notes
|
Section
2.06.
|
Notice
of Auction Period Rate
|
Section
2.07.
|
Index
|
Section
2.08.
|
Miscellaneous
Provisions Regarding Auctions
|
Section
2.09.
|
Changes
in Auction Period or Auction
Date
|
Both
the
Definitions in Article I and the Auction Procedures in Article II are subject
to
modification or amendment pursuant to Schedule I. In the event of any
conflict between Article I or Article II and Schedule I, Schedule I shall
prevail. Any reference herein to “Series” such as “a Series of Notes”
or “Notes of a Series” shall not apply if there is only one Series of
Notes.
ARTICLE
I
Definitions
In
addition to the words and terms otherwise defined in the Authorizing Document,
the following words and terms as used in this Appendix B (hereinafter
“this Exhibit”) and elsewhere in the Authorizing Document have the following
meanings with respect to Notes in an ARS Rate Period unless the context or
use
indicates another or different meaning or intent or the definition has been
changed, modified or expanded in Schedule I:
“Agent
Member” means a member of, or participant in, the Securities Depository
who shall act on behalf of a Bidder.
“All
Hold Rate” has the meaning set forth in Schedule I.
“ARS
Conversion Date” means with respect to Notes, the date on which the
Notes of such Series convert from an interest rate period other than an ARS
Rate
Period and begin to bear interest at the Auction Period Rate.
“ARS
Rate Period” means, for each Series of Notes, any period of time
commencing on the day following the Initial Period and ending on the earlier
of
the Conversion Date or the day preceding the final maturity date of such
Notes.
“Auction”
means each periodic implementation of the Auction Procedures.
“Auction
Agent” means the Person appointed as Auction Agent in accordance with
the Auction Agreement. The Auction Agent shall initially be the party
named in Schedule I.
“Auction
Agreement” means an agreement between the Auction Agent and the
Indenture Trustee pursuant to which the Auction Agent agrees to follow the
procedures specified in this Exhibit with respect to the Notes while such
Notes bear interest at the Auction Period Rate, as such agreement may from
time
to time be amended or supplemented.
“Auction
Date” means with respect to any Series of Notes:
(a)
Daily Auction Period. If the Notes are in a daily Auction Period,
each Business Day unless such day is the Business Day prior to the conversion
from a daily Auction Period to another Auction Period,
(b)
Flexible Auction Period. If the Notes are in a Flexible Auction
Period, the last Business Day of the Flexible Auction Period, and
(c)
Other Auction Periods. If the Notes are in any other Auction Period,
the Business Day next preceding each Interest Payment Date for such Notes
(whether or not an Auction shall be conducted on such date);
provided,
however, that the last Auction Date with respect to the Notes in an Auction
Period other than a daily Auction Period or Flexible Auction Period shall be
the
earlier of (i) the Business Day next preceding the Interest Payment Date
next preceding the Conversion Date for the Notes and (ii) the Business Day
next preceding the Interest Payment Date next preceding the final maturity
date
for the Notes; and
provided,
further, that if the Notes are in a daily Auction Period, the last
Auction Date shall be the earlier of (x) the second Business Day next
preceding the Conversion Date for the Notes and (y) the Business Day next
preceding the final maturity date for the Notes. The last Business
Day of a Flexible Auction Period shall be the Auction Date for the Auction
Period which begins on the next succeeding Business Day, if any. On
the second Business Day preceding the conversion from a daily Auction Period
to
another Auction Period, there shall be an Auction for the last daily Auction
Period. On the Business Day preceding the conversion from a daily
Auction Period to another Auction Period, there shall be one Auction for the
first Auction Period following the conversion.
The
first Auction Date for each Series
of Notes is set forth in Schedule I.
“Auction
Desk” means the business unit of a Broker-Dealer that fulfills the
responsibilities of the Broker-Dealer under a Broker-Dealer Agreement, including
soliciting Bids for the Notes, and units of the Broker-Dealer which are not
separated from such business unit by information controls appropriate to
control, limit and monitor the inappropriate dissemination and use of
information about Bids.
“Auction
Period” means with respect to each Series of Notes:
(a) Flexible
Auction Period. A Flexible Auction Period;
(b) Daily
Auction Period. With respect to a Series of Notes in a daily
Auction Period, a period beginning on each Business Day and extending to but
not
including the next succeeding Business Day unless such Business Day is the
second Business Day preceding the conversion from a daily Auction Period to
another Auction Period, in which case the daily Auction Period shall extend
to,
but not include, the next Interest Payment Date;
(c) Seven
day Auction Period. With respect to a Series of Notes
in a seven-day Auction Period, if Auctions generally are conducted on the day
of
the week specified in column A of the table below, a period of generally seven
days beginning on the day of the week specified in column B of the table below
(or the day following the last day of the prior Auction Period if the prior
Auction Period does not end on the day of the week specified in column C of
the
table below) and ending on the day of the week specified in column C of the
table below in the next succeeding week (unless such day is not followed by
a
Business Day, in which case on the next succeeding day which is followed by
a
Business Day):
(A)
|
(B)
|
(C)
|
When
Auctions Occur on this day
|
Auction
Period Generally Begins this day
|
Auction
Periods Generally End this day
|
Friday
|
Monday
|
Sunday
|
Monday
|
Tuesday
|
Monday
|
Tuesday
|
Wednesday
|
Tuesday
|
Wednesday
|
Thursday
|
Wednesday
|
Thursday
|
Friday
|
Thursday
|
(d) 28-day
Auction Period. With respect to a Series of Notes in a 28-day
Auction Period, if Auctions generally are conducted on the day of the week
specified in column A of the table above, a period of generally 28 days
beginning on the day of the week specified in column B of the table above (or
the day following the last day of the prior Auction Period if the prior Auction
Period does not end on the day of the week specified in column C of the table
above) and ending on the same day of the week specified in column C of the
table
above four weeks later (unless such day is not followed by a Business Day,
in
which case on the next succeeding day which is followed by a Business
Day).
(e) 35-day
Auction Period. With respect to a Series of Notes in a 35-day
Auction Period, if Auctions generally are conducted on the day of the week
specified in column A of the table above, a period of generally 35 days
beginning on the day of the week specified in column B of the table above (or
the day following the last day of the prior Auction Period if the prior Auction
Period does not end on the day of the week specified in column C of the table
above) and ending on the day of the week specified in column C of the table
above five weeks later (unless such day is not followed by a Business Day,
in
which case on the next succeeding day which is followed by a Business
Day).
(f) Three-month
Auction Period. With respect to a Series of Notes in a
three-month Auction Period, a period of generally three months (or shorter
period upon a conversion from another Auction Period) beginning on the day
following the last day of the prior Auction Period and ending on the calendar
day immediately preceding the first Business Day of the month that is the third
calendar month following the beginning date of such Auction Period;
and
(g) Six-month
Auction Period. With respect to a Series of Notes in a six-month
Auction Period, a period of generally six months (or shorter period upon a
conversion from another Auction Period) beginning on the day following the
last
day of the prior Auction Period and ending on the next succeeding date set
forth
in Schedule I;
Provided,
however, that if there is a conversion of a Series of Notes with Auctions
generally conducted on the day of the week specified in column A of the table
above, (i) from a daily Auction Period to a seven-day Auction Period, the next
Auction Period shall begin on the date of the conversion (i.e. the Interest
Payment Date for the prior Auction Period) and shall end on the next succeeding
day of the week specified in column C of the table above (unless such day is
not
followed by a Business Day, in which case on the next succeeding day which
is
followed by a Business Day), (ii) from a daily Auction Period to a 28-day
Auction Period, the next Auction Period shall begin on the date of the
conversion (i.e., the Interest Payment Date for the prior Auction Period) and
shall end of the day of the week specified in column C of the table above
(unless such day is not followed by a Business Day, in which case on the next
succeeding day which is followed by a Business Day) which is more than 21 days
but not more than 28 days from such date of conversion, and (iii) from a daily
Auction Period to a 35-day Auction Period, the next Auction Period shall begin
on the date of the conversion (i.e. the Interest Payment Date for the prior
Auction Period) and shall end on the day of the week specified in column C
of
the table above (unless such day is not followed by a Business Day, in which
case on the next succeeding day which is followed by a Business Day) which
is
more than 28 days but no more than 35 days from such date of
conversion.
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, if an Auction is for an Auction Period of more than seven days
and the Auction Rate on such Auction Date is the Maximum Rate as the result
of a
lack of Sufficient Clearing Bids, the Auction Period shall automatically convert
to a seven-day Auction Period. On the following Auction Date, the
Auction shall be conducted for an Auction Period of the same length as the
Auction Period prior to such automatic conversion. If such Auction is
successful, the Auction Period shall revert to the length prior to the automatic
conversion, and, if such Auction is not successful, the Auction Period shall
be
another seven-day period.
“Auction
Period Rate” means the Auction Rate or any other rate of interest to be
borne by the Notes during each Auction Period determined in accordance with
Section 2.04 of this Exhibit; provided, however, in no event may the Auction
Period Rate exceed the Maximum Rate.
“Auction
Procedures” means the procedures for conducting Auctions for Notes
during an ARS Rate Period set forth in this Exhibit.
“Auction
Rate” means for each Series of Notes for each Auction Period,
(i) if Sufficient Clearing Bids exist, the Winning Bid Rate, provided,
however, if all of the Notes are the subject of Submitted Hold Orders, the
All
Hold Rate for such Series of Notes and (ii) if Sufficient Clearing Bids do
not exist, the Maximum Rate for such Series of Notes.
“Authorized
Denominations” means $25,000, or such other amount specified in
Schedule I, and integral multiples thereof so long as the Notes bear interest
at
the Auction Period Rate, notwithstanding anything else in the Authorizing
Document to the contrary.
“Authorizing
Document” has the meaning set forth in Schedule I.
“Available
Notes” means, for each Series of Notes on each Auction Date, the number
of Units of Notes that are not the subject of Submitted Hold
Orders.
“Bid”
has the meaning specified in subsection (a) of Section 2.01 of this
Exhibit.
“Bidder”
means each Existing Owner and Potential Owner who places an Order.
“Notes”
has the meaning set forth in Schedule I.
“Broker-Dealer”
means any entity that is permitted by law to perform the function required
of a
Broker-Dealer described in this Exhibit, that is a member of, or a direct
participant in, the Securities Depository, that has been selected by the
Corporation and that is a party to a Broker-Dealer Agreement with the Auction
Agent and the Corporation. The “Broker-Dealer of record” with respect
to any Note is the Broker-Dealer which placed the Order for such Note or whom
the Existing Owner of such Note has designated as its Broker-Dealer with respect
to such Note, in each case as reflected in the records of the Auction
Agent.
“Broker-Dealer
Agreement” means an agreement among the Auction Agent, the Corporation
and a Broker-Dealer pursuant to which such Broker-Dealer agrees to follow the
procedures described in this Exhibit, as such agreement may from to time be
amended or supplemented.
“Broker-Dealer
Deadline” means, with respect to an Order, the internal deadline
established by the Broker-Dealer through which the Order was placed after which
it will not accept Orders or any change in any Order previously placed with
such
Broker-Dealer; provided, however, that nothing shall prevent the Broker-Dealer
from correcting Clerical Errors by the Broker-Dealer with respect to Orders
from
Bidders after the Broker-Dealer Deadline pursuant to the
provisions herein. Any Broker-Dealer may change the time or
times of its Broker-Dealer Deadline as it relates to such Broker-Dealer by
giving notice not less than two Business Days prior to the date such change
is
to take effect to Bidders who place Orders through such
Broker-Dealer.
“Business
Day” in addition to any other definition of “Business Day” included in
the Authorizing Document, while Notes bear interest at the Auction Period Rate,
the term Business Day shall not include Saturdays, Sundays, days on which the
New York Stock Exchange or its successor is not open for business, days on
which
the Federal Reserve Bank of New York is not open for business, days
on which banking institutions or trust companies located in the state in which
the operations of the Auction Agent are conducted are authorized or required
to
be closed by law, regulation or executive order of the state in which the
Auction Agent conducts operations with respect to the Notes.
“Clerical
Error” means a clerical error in the processing of an Order, and
includes, but is not limited to, the following: (i) a transmission error,
including but not limited to, an Order sent to the wrong address or number,
failure to transmit certain pages or illegible transmission, (ii) failure to
transmit an Order received from one or more Existing Owners or Potential Owners
(including Orders from the Broker-Dealer which were not originated by the
Auction Desk) prior to the Broker-Dealer Deadline or generated by the
Broker-Dealer’s Auction Desk for its own account prior to the Submission
Deadline or (iii) a typographical error. Determining whether an error
is a “Clerical Error” is within the reasonable judgment of the Broker-Dealer,
provided that the Broker-Dealer has a record of the correct Order that shows
it
was so received or so generated prior to the Broker-Dealer Deadline or
the Submission Deadline, as applicable.
“Conversion
Date” means the date on which any Series of the Notes begin to bear
interest at a rate which is determined other than by means of the Auction
Procedures.
“Corporation”
has the meaning set forth in Schedule I.
“Electronic
Means” means, facsimile transmission, email transmission or other
similar electronic means of communication providing evidence of transmission,
including a telephone communication confirmed by any other method set forth
in
this definition.
“Error
Correction Deadline” means one hour after the Auction Agent completes
the dissemination of the results of the Auction to Broker-Dealers without regard
to the time of receipt of such results by any Broker-Dealer; provided, however,
in no event shall the Error Correction Deadline extend past 4:00 p.m., New
York
City time, unless the Auction Agent experiences technological failure or force
majeure in disseminating the Auction results which causes a delay in
dissemination past 3:00 p.m., New York City time.
“Existing
Owner” means a Person who is the beneficial owner of Notes; provided,
however, that for purposes of conducting an Auction, the Auction Agent may
consider a Broker-Dealer acting on behalf of its customer as an Existing
Owner.
“Flexible
Auction Period” means with respect to a Series of Notes,
(a) any
period of 182 days or less which is divisible by seven and which begins on
an
Interest Payment Date and ends (i) in the case of a Series of Notes with
Auctions generally conducted on Fridays, on a Sunday unless such Sunday is
not
followed by a Business Day, in which case on the next succeeding day which
is
followed by a Business Day, (ii) in the case of a Series of Notes with
Auctions generally conducted on Mondays, on a Monday unless such Monday is
not
followed by a Business Day, in which case on the next succeeding day which
is
followed by a Business Day, (iii) in the case of a Series of Notes with
Auctions generally conducted on Tuesdays, on a Tuesday unless such Tuesday
is
not followed by a Business Day, in which case on the next succeeding day which
is followed by a Business Day, (iv) in the case of a Series of Notes with
Auctions generally conducted on Wednesdays, on a Wednesday unless such Wednesday
is not followed by a Business Day, in which case on the next succeeding day
which is followed by a Business Day, and (v) in the case of a Series of
Notes with Auctions generally conducted on Thursdays, on a Thursday unless
such
Thursday is not followed by a Business Day, in which case on the next succeeding
day which is followed by a Business Day or
(b) any
period which is longer than 182 days which begins on an Interest Payment Date
and ends not later than the final scheduled maturity date of such Series of
Notes.
“Hold
Order” means an Order to hold the Notes as provided in Section 2.01(a)
of this Exhibit or such an Order deemed to have been submitted as provided
in
Section 2.01(c) of this Exhibit.
“Index”
has the meaning set forth in Schedule I.
“Initial
Period” has the meaning set forth in Schedule I.
“Initial
Period Rate” has the meaning set forth in Schedule I.
“Interest
Payment Date” with respect to Notes of a Series bearing interest at
Auction Period Rates, means, notwithstanding anything else in the Authorizing
Document to the contrary, the first Interest Payment Date for such Series of
Notes as set forth in Schedule I and thereafter (unless changed by Schedule
I) (a) when used with respect to any Auction Period other than a
daily Auction Period or a Flexible Auction Period, the Business Day immediately
following such Auction Period, (b) when used with respect to a daily
Auction Period, the first Business Day of the month immediately succeeding
such
Auction Period, (c) when used with respect to a Flexible Auction Period of
(i) seven or more but fewer than 183 days, the Business Day immediately
following such Flexible Auction Period, or (ii) 183 or more days, each
semiannual date on which interest on the Notes would be payable if such Notes
bore interest at a fixed rate of interest and on the Business Day immediately
following such Flexible Auction Period, and (d) the date when the final
payment of principal of the Notes of such Series becomes due and payable
(whether at stated maturity, upon redemption or acceleration, or
otherwise).
“Order”
means a Hold Order, Bid or Sell Order.
“Potential
Owner” means any Person, including any Existing Owner, who may be
interested in acquiring a beneficial interest in the Notes in addition to the
Notes currently owned by such Person, if any; provided, however, that for
purposes of conducting an Auction, the Auction Agent may consider a
Broker-Dealer acting on behalf of its customer as a Potential
Owner.
“Record
Date” means, notwithstanding anything else in the Authorizing Document,
while the Notes bear interest at the Auction Period Rate, the Business Day
immediately preceding an Interest Payment Date.
“Schedule
I” means Schedule I to this Exhibit.
“Securities
Depository” means, notwithstanding anything else in the Authorizing
Document to the contrary, The Depository Trust Company and its successors and
assigns or any other securities depository selected by the
Corporation.
“Sell
Order” has the meaning specified in subsection (a) of Section 2.01 of
this Exhibit.
“Submission
Deadline” means, unless changed by Schedule I, 1:00 p.m., New York City
time, on each Auction Date not in a daily Auction Period and 11:00 a.m., New
York City time, on each Auction Date in a daily Auction Period, or such other
time on such date as shall be specified from time to time by the Auction Agent
if directed in writing by the Indenture Trustee or the Corporation pursuant
to
the Auction Agreement as the time by which Broker-Dealers are required to submit
Orders to the Auction Agent. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Auction Agent will follow the Securities Industry and Financial Markets
Association’s Early Market Close Recommendations for shortened trading days for
the bond markets (the “SIFMA Recommendation”) unless the Auction Agent is
instructed otherwise in writing by the Indenture Trustee or the
Corporation. In the event of a SIFMA Recommendation with respect to
an Auction Date, the Submission Deadline will be 11:30 a.m., instead of 1:00
p.m., New York City time.
“Submitted
Bid” has the meaning specified in subsection (b) of Section 2.04 of
this Exhibit.
“Submitted
Hold Order” has the meaning specified in subsection (b) of Section 2.04
of this Exhibit.
“Submitted
Order” has the meaning specified in subsection (b) of Section 2.04 of
this Exhibit.
“Submitted
Sell Order” has the meaning specified in subsection (b) of Section 2.04
of this Exhibit.
“Sufficient
Clearing Bids” means for each Series of Notes, an Auction for which the
number of Units of such Notes that are the subject of Submitted Bids by
Potential Owners specifying one or more rates not higher than the Maximum Rate
is not less than the number of Units of such Notes that are the subject of
Submitted Sell Orders and of Submitted Bids by Existing Owners specifying rates
higher than the Maximum Rate.
“Units”
has the meaning set forth in Section 2.02(a)(iii) of this Exhibit.
“Winning
Bid Rate” means for each Series of Notes, the lowest rate specified in
any Submitted Bid of such Series which if calculated by the Auction Agent as
the
Auction Rate would cause the number of Units of such Notes that are the subject
of Submitted Bids specifying a rate not greater than such rate to be not less
than the number of Units of Available Notes of such Series.
ARTICLE
II
Auction
Procedures
Section
2.01. Orders
by Existing Owners and Potential Owners. (a) Prior to the
Broker-Dealer Deadline for each Series of Notes on each Auction
Date:
(i) each
Existing Owner may submit to a Broker-Dealer, in writing or by such other method
as shall be reasonably acceptable to such Broker-Dealer, one or more Orders
as
to:
(A) the
principal amount of Notes, if any, held by such Existing Owner which such
Existing Owner commits to continue to hold for the next succeeding Auction
Period without regard to the Auction Rate for such Auction Period,
(B) the
principal amount of Notes, if any, held by such Existing Owner which such
Existing Owner commits to continue to hold for the next succeeding Auction
Period if the Auction Rate for the next succeeding Auction Period is not less
than the rate per annum specified in such Order (and if the Auction Rate is
less
than such specified rate, the effect of the Order shall be as set forth in
paragraph (b)(i)(A) of this Section), and/or
(C) the
principal amount of Notes, if any, held by such Existing Owner which such
Existing Owner offers to sell on the first Business Day of the next succeeding
Auction Period (or on the same day in the case of a daily Auction Period)
without regard to the Auction Rate for the next succeeding Auction Period;
and
(ii) each
Potential Owner may submit to a Broker-Dealer, in writing or by such other
method as shall be reasonably acceptable to such Broker-Dealer, an Order as
to
the principal amount of Notes, which each such Potential Owner offers to
purchase if the Auction Rate for the next succeeding Auction Period is not
less
than the rate per annum then specified by such Potential Owner.
For
the
purposes of the Auction Procedures an Order containing the information referred
to in clause (i)(A) above is referred to as a “Hold Order,” an Order containing
the information referred to in clause (i)(B) or (ii) above is referred to as
a
“Bid,” and an Order containing the information referred to in clause (i)(C)
above is referred to as a “Sell Order.”
No
Auction Desk of a Broker-Dealer shall accept as an Order a submission (whether
received from an Existing Owner or a Potential Owner or generated by the
Broker-Dealer for its own account) which does not conform to the
requirements of the Auction Procedures, including, but not limited to,
submissions which are not in Authorized Denominations, specify a rate which
contains more than three figures to the right of the decimal point or specify
an
amount greater than the amount of Outstanding Notes. No Auction Desk
of a Broker-Dealer shall accept a Bid or Sell Order which is conditioned on
being filled in whole or a Bid which does not specify a specific interest
rate.
(b) (i) A
Bid by an Existing Owner shall constitute an offer to sell on the first Business
Day of the next succeeding Auction Period (or the same day in the
case of a daily Auction Period):
(A) the
principal amount of Notes specified in such Bid if the Auction Rate for the
next
succeeding Auction Period shall be less than the rate specified in such Bid;
or
(B) such
principal amount or a lesser principal amount of Notes to be determined as
described in subsection (a)(v) of Section 2.05 hereof if the Auction Rate for
the next succeeding Auction Period shall be equal to such specified rate;
or
(C) a
lesser
principal amount of Notes to be determined as described in subsection (b)(iv)
of
Section 2.05 hereof if such specified rate shall be higher than the Maximum
Rate
and Sufficient Clearing Bids do not exist.
(ii) A
Sell
Order by an Existing Owner shall constitute an offer to sell:
(A) the
principal amount of Notes specified in such Sell Order; or
(B) such
principal amount or a lesser principal amount of Notes as described in
subsection (b)(iv) of Section 2.05 hereof if Sufficient Clearing Bids do not
exist.
(iii) A
Bid by
a Potential Owner shall constitute an offer to purchase:
(A) the
principal amount of Notes specified in such Bid if the Auction Rate for the
next
succeeding Auction Period shall be higher than the rate specified therein;
or
(B) such
principal amount or a lesser principal amount of Notes as described in
subsection (a)(vi) of Section 2.05 hereof if the Auction Rate for the next
succeeding Auction Period shall be equal to such specified rate.
(c) Anything
herein to the contrary notwithstanding:
(i) If
an
Order or Orders covering all of the Notes of a particular Series held
by an Existing Owner is not submitted to the Broker-Dealer of record for such
Existing Owner prior to the Broker-Dealer Deadline, such Broker-Dealer shall
deem a Hold Order to have been submitted on behalf of such Existing Owner
covering the principal amount of Notes held by such Existing Owner and not
subject to Orders submitted to such Broker-Dealer; provided, however, that
if
there is a conversion from one Auction Period to a longer Auction Period and
Orders have not been submitted to such Broker-Dealer prior to the Broker-Dealer
Deadline covering the aggregate principal amount of Notes of a particular Series
to be converted held by such Existing Owner, such Broker-Dealer shall deem
a
Sell Order to have been submitted on behalf of such Existing Owner covering
the
principal amount of Notes to be converted held by such Existing Owner not
subject to Orders submitted to such Broker-Dealer.
(ii) for
purposes of any Auction, any Order by any Existing Owner or Potential Owner
shall be revocable until the Broker-Dealer Deadline, and after the Broker-Dealer
Deadline, all such Orders shall be irrevocable, except as provided in Sections
2.02(e)(ii) and 2.02(f); and
(iii) for
purposes of any Auction other than during a daily Auction Period, any Notes
sold
or purchased pursuant to subsection (b)(i), (ii) or (iii) above shall be sold
or
purchased at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof; provided
that, for purposes of any Auction during a daily Auction Period, such sale
or
purchase price shall be 100% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued
interest to the date of sale or purchase.
Section
2.02. Submission
of Orders by Broker-Dealers to Auction Agent.
(a) Each
Broker-Dealer shall submit to the Auction Agent in writing, or by such
Electronic Means as shall be reasonably acceptable to the Auction Agent, prior
to the Submission Deadline on each Auction Date for Notes of a Series, all
Orders with respect to Notes of such Series accepted by such Broker-Dealer
in
accordance with Section 2.01 above and specifying with respect to each Order
or
aggregation of Orders pursuant to Section 2.02(b) below:
(i) the
name
of the Broker-Dealer;
(ii) the
number of Bidders placing Orders, if requested by the Auction
Agent;
(iii) the
aggregate number of Units of Notes of such Series, if any, that are the subject
of such Order, where each Unit is equal to the principal amount of the minimum
Authorized Denomination of the Notes;
(iv) to
the
extent that such Bidder is an Existing Owner:
(A) the
number of Units of Notes of such Series, if any, subject to any Hold Order
placed by such Existing Owner;
(B) the
number of Units of Notes of such Series, if any, subject to any Bid placed
by
such Existing Owner and the rate specified in such Bid; and
(C) the
number of Units of Notes of such Series, if any, subject to any Sell Order
placed by such Existing Owner; and
(v) to
the
extent such Bidder is a Potential Owner, the rate specified in such
Bid.
(b) If
more
than one Bid is submitted to a Broker-Dealer on behalf of any single Potential
Owner, the Broker-Dealer shall aggregate each Bid on behalf of such Potential
Owner submitted with the same rate and consider such Bids as a single Bid and
shall consider each Bid submitted with a different rate a separate Bid with
the
rate and the number of Units of Notes specified therein.
A
Broker-Dealer may aggregate the Orders of different Potential Owners with those
of other Potential Owners on whose behalf the Broker-Dealer is submitting Orders
and may aggregate the Orders of different Existing Owners with other Existing
Owners on whose behalf the Broker-Dealer is submitting Orders; provided,
however, Bids may only be aggregated if the interest rates on the Bids are
the
same.
(c) None
of
the Issuer, the Corporation, the Indenture Trustee or the Auction Agent shall
be
responsible for the failure of any Broker-Dealer to submit an Order to the
Auction Agent on behalf of any Existing Owner or Potential Owner.
(d) Nothing
contained herein shall preclude a Broker-Dealer from placing an Order for some
or all of the Notes for its own account.
(e) Until
the
Submission Deadline, a Broker-Dealer may withdraw or modify any Order previously
submitted to the Auction Agent (i) for any reason if the Order was generated
by
the Auction Desk of the Broker-Dealer for the account of the Broker-Dealer
or
(ii) to correct a Clerical Error in the case of any other Order, including
Orders from the Broker-Dealer which were not originated by the Auction
Desk.
(f) After
the
Submission Deadline and prior to the Error Correction Deadline, a Broker-Dealer
may:
(i) submit
to
the Auction Agent an Order received from an Existing Owner, Potential Owner
or a
Broker-Dealer which is not an Order originated by the Auction Desk, in each
case
prior to the Broker-Dealer Deadline, or an Order generated by the
Broker-Dealer’s Auction Desk for its own account prior to the Submission
Deadline (provided that in each case the Broker-Dealer has a record of such
Order and the time when such Order was received or generated) and not submitted
to the Auction Agent prior to the Submission Deadline as a result of (A) an
event of force majeure or a technological failure which made delivery prior
to
the Submission Deadline impossible or, under the conditions then prevailing,
impracticable or (B) a Clerical Error on the part of the Broker-Dealer;
or
(ii) modify
or
withdraw an Order received from an Existing Owner or Potential Owner or
generated by the Broker-Dealer (whether generated by the Broker-Dealer’s Auction
Desk or elsewhere within the Broker-Dealer) for its own account and submitted
to
the Auction Agent prior to the Submission Deadline or pursuant to clause (i)
above, if the Broker-Dealer determines that such Order contained a Clerical
Error on the part of the Broker-Dealer.
In
the event a Broker-Dealer makes a
submission, modification or withdrawal pursuant to this Section 2.02(f) and
the
Auction Agent has already run the Auction, the Auction Agent shall rerun the
Auction, taking into account such submission, modification or
withdrawal. Each submission, modification or withdrawal of an Order
submitted pursuant to this Section 2.02(f) by a Broker-Dealer after the
Submission Deadline and prior to the Error Correction Deadline shall constitute
a representation by the Broker-Dealer that (A) in the case of a newly submitted
Order or portion thereof or revised Order, the failure to submit such Order
prior to the Submission Deadline resulted from an event described in clause
(i)
above and such Order was received from an Existing Owner or Potential Owner
or
is an Order received from the Broker-Dealer that was not originated by the
Auction Desk, in each case, prior to the Broker-Dealer Deadline, or generated
internally by such Broker-Dealer’s Auction Desk for its own account prior to the
Submission Deadline or (B) in the case of a modified or withdrawn Order, such
Order was received from an Existing Owner, a Potential Owner or the
Broker-Dealer which was not originated by the Auction Desk prior to the
Broker-Dealer Deadline, or generated internally by such Broker-Dealer’s Auction
Desk for its own account prior to the Submission Deadline and such Order as
submitted to the Auction Agent contained a Clerical Error on the part of the
Broker-Dealer and that such Order has been modified or withdrawn solely to
effect a correction of such Clerical Error, and in the case of either (A) or
(B), as applicable, the Broker-Dealer has a record of such Order and the time
when such Order was received or generated. The Auction Agent shall be
entitled to rely conclusively (and shall have no liability for relying) on
such
representation for any and all purposes of the Auction Procedures.
(g) If
after the Auction Agent announces
the results of an Auction, a Broker-Dealer becomes aware that an error was
made
by the Auction Agent, the Broker-Dealer shall communicate such awareness to
the
Auction Agent prior to 5:00 p.m. New York City time on the Auction Date (or
2:00
pm. New York City time in the case of Notes in a daily Auction
Period). If the Auction Agent determines there has
been such an error (as a result of either a communication from a
Broker-Dealer or its own discovery) prior to 3:00 p.m. New York City time on
the
first day of the Auction Period with respect to which such
Auction was conducted, the Auction Agent shall correct the error and notify
each
Broker-Dealer that submitted Bids or held a position in Notes in such Auction
of
the corrected results.
(h) Nothing
contained herein shall preclude the Auction Agent from:
(i) advising
a Broker-Dealer prior to the Submission Deadline that it has not received
Sufficient Clearing Bids for the Notes; provided, however, that if the Auction
Agent so advises any Broker-Dealer, it shall so advise all Broker-Dealers;
or
(ii) verifying
the Orders of a Broker-Dealer prior to or after the Submission Deadline;
provided, however, that if the Auction Agent verifies the Orders of any
Broker-Dealer, it shall verify the Orders of all Broker-Dealers requesting
such
verification.
Section
2.03. Treatment
of Orders by the Auction Agent. Anything herein to the contrary
notwithstanding:
(a) If
the
Auction Agent receives an Order which does not conform to the requirements
of
the Auction Procedures, the Auction Agent may contact the Broker-Dealer
submitting such Order until one hour after the Submission Deadline and inform
such Broker-Dealer that it may resubmit such Order so that it conforms to the
requirements of the Auction Procedures. Upon being so informed, such
Broker-Dealer may correct and resubmit to the Auction Agent any such Order
that,
solely as a result of a Clerical Error on the part of such Broker-Dealer, did
not conform to the requirements of the Auction Procedures when previously
submitted to the Auction Agent. Any such resubmission by a
Broker-Dealer shall constitute a representation by such Broker-Dealer that
the
failure of such Order to have so conformed was solely as a result of a Clerical
Error on the part of such Broker-Dealer. If the Auction Agent has not
received a corrected conforming Order within one hour and fifteen minutes of
the
Submission Deadline, the Auction Agent shall, if and to the extent applicable,
adjust or apply such Order, as the case may be, in conformity with
the provisions of subsections (b), (c) or (d) of this Section 2.03 and, if
the
Auction Agent is unable to so adjust or apply such Order, the Auction Agent
shall reject such Order.
(b) If
any
rate specified in any Bid contains more than three figures to the right of
the
decimal point, the Auction Agent shall round such rate up to the next highest
one thousandth of one percent (0.001%).
(c) If
one or
more Orders covering in the aggregate more than the number of Units of
Outstanding Notes of a particular Series are submitted by a
Broker-Dealer to the Auction Agent, such Orders shall be considered valid in
the
following order of priority:
(i) all
Hold
Orders shall be considered Hold Orders, but only up to and including in the
aggregate the number of Units of Notes of such Series for which such
Broker-Dealer is the Broker-Dealer of record;
(ii) (A) any
Bid of a Broker-Dealer shall be considered valid as a Bid of an Existing Owner
up to and including the excess of the number of Units of Notes of such Series
for which such Broker-Dealer is the Broker-Dealer of record over the number
of
Units of the Notes of such Series subject to Hold Orders referred to in clause
(i) above;
(B) subject
to clause (A) above, all Bids of a Broker-Dealer with the same rate shall be
aggregated and considered a single Bid of an Existing Owner up to and including
the excess of the number of Units of Notes of such Series for which such
Broker-Dealer is the Broker-Dealer of record over the number of Units of Notes
of such Series for which such Broker-Dealer is the Broker-Dealer of record
subject to Hold Orders referred to in clause (i) above;
(C) subject
to clause (A) above, if more than one Bid with different rates is submitted
by a
Broker-Dealer, such Bids shall be considered Bids of an Existing Owner in the
ascending order of their respective rates up to the amount of the excess of
the
number of Units of Notes of such Series for which such Broker-Dealer is the
Broker-Dealer of record over the number of Units of Notes of such Series for
which such Broker-Dealer is the Broker-Dealer of record subject to Hold Orders
referred to in clause (i) above; and
(D) the
number of Units, if any, of such Notes of such Series subject to Bids not
considered to be Bids for which such Broker-Dealer is the Broker-Dealer of
record under this clause (ii) shall be treated as the subject of a Bid by a
Potential Owner;
(iii) all
Sell
Orders shall be considered Sell Orders, but only up to and including the number
of Units of Notes of such Series equal to the excess of the number of Units
of
Notes of such Series for which such Broker-Dealer is the Broker-Dealer of record
over the sum of the number of Units of the Notes of such Series considered
to be
subject to Hold Orders pursuant to clause (i) above and the number of Units
of
Notes of such Series considered to be subject to Bids for which such
Broker-Dealer is the Broker-Dealer of record pursuant to clause (ii)
above.
(d) If
any Order is for other than an integral number of Units, then the Auction Agent
shall round the amount down to the nearest number of whole Units, and the
Auction Agent shall conduct the Auction Procedures as if such Order had been
submitted in such number of Units.
(e) For
purposes of any Auction other than during a daily Auction Period, if an Auction
Agent has been notified by the Indenture Trustee, Issuer or Corporation that
any
portion of an Order by a Broker-Dealer relates to a Note which has been called
for redemption on or prior to the Interest Payment Date next succeeding such
Auction, the Order shall be invalid with respect to such portion and the Auction
Agent shall conduct the Auction Procedures as if such portion of such Order
had
not been submitted.
(f) For
purposes of any Auction other than during a daily Auction Period, no portion
of
a Note which the Auction Agent has been notified by the Indenture Trustee,
Issuer or Corporation has been called for redemption on or prior to the Interest
Payment Date next succeeding such Auction shall be included in the calculation
of Available Notes for such Auction.
(g) If
an
Order or Orders covering all of the Notes of a particular
Series is not submitted by a Broker-Dealer of record prior to the
Submission Deadline, the Auction Agent shall deem a Hold Order to have been
submitted on behalf of such Broker-Dealer covering the number of Units of Notes
for which such Broker-Dealer is the Broker-Dealer of record and not subject
to
Orders submitted to the Auction Agent; provided, however, that if there is
a
conversion from one Auction Period to a longer Auction Period and Orders have
not been submitted by such Broker-Dealer prior to the Submission Deadline
covering the number of Units of Notes of a particular Series to be converted
for
which such Broker-Dealer is the Broker-Dealer of record, the Auction Agent
shall
deem a Sell Order to have been submitted on behalf of such Broker-Dealer
covering the number of Units of Notes to be converted for which such
Broker-Dealer is the Broker-Dealer of record not subject to Orders submitted
by
such Broker-Dealer.
Section
2.04. Determination
of Auction Period Rate. (a)
If requested by the
Indenture Trustee or a Broker-Dealer, not later than 10:30 a.m., New York City
time (or such other time as may be agreed to by the Auction Agent and all
Broker-Dealers), on each Auction Date for each Series of Notes, the Auction
Agent shall advise such Broker-Dealer (and thereafter confirm to the Indenture
Trustee, if requested) of the All Hold Rate, the Index and, if the
Maximum Rate is not a fixed interest rate, the Maximum Rate. Such
advice, and confirmation, shall be made by telephone or other Electronic Means
acceptable to the Auction Agent.
(b) Promptly
after the Submission Deadline for each Series of Notes on each Auction Date,
the
Auction Agent shall assemble all Orders submitted or deemed submitted to it
by
the Broker-Dealers (each such Order as submitted or deemed submitted by a
Broker-Dealer being hereinafter referred to as a “Submitted Hold Order,” a
“Submitted Bid” or a “Submitted Sell Order,” as the case may be, and
collectively as a “Submitted Order”) and shall determine (i) the Available
Notes, (ii) whether there are Sufficient Clearing Bids, and (iii) the
Auction Rate.
(c) In
the
event the Auction Agent shall fail to calculate or, for any reason, fails to
provide the Auction Rate on the Auction Date, for any Auction Period (i) if
the preceding Auction Period was a period of 35 days or less, (A) a new Auction
Period shall be established for the same length of time as
the preceding Auction Period, if the failure to make such calculation
was because there was not at the time a duly appointed and acting Auction Agent
or Broker-Dealer, and the Auction Period Rate for the new Auction Period shall
be the percentage of the Index set forth in Schedule I under “Determination of
Auction Period Rate” if the Index is ascertainable on such date (by the Auction
Agent, if there is at the time an Auction Agent, or the Indenture Trustee,
if at
the time there is no Auction Agent) or, (B) if the failure to make such
calculation was for any other reason or if the Index is not ascertainable on
such date, the prior Auction Period shall be extended to the seventh day
following the day that would have been the last day of the preceding Auction
Period (or if such seventh day is not followed by a Business Day then to the
next succeeding day that is followed by a Business Day) and the
Auction Period Rate for the period as so extended shall be the same as the
Auction Period Rate for the Auction Period prior to the extension, and
(ii) if the preceding Auction Period was a period of greater than 35 days,
(A) a new Auction Period shall be established for a period that ends on the
seventh day following the day that was the last day of the preceding Auction
Period, (or if such seventh day is not followed by a Business Day then to the
next succeeding day which is followed by a Business Day) if the failure to
make
such calculation was because there was not at the time a duly appointed and
acting Auction Agent or Broker-Dealer, and the Auction Period Rate for the
new
Auction Period shall be the percentage of the Index set forth in Schedule I
under “Determination of Auction Period Rate” if the Index is
ascertainable on such date (by the Auction Agent, if there is at the time an
Auction Agent, or the Indenture Trustee, if at the time there is no Auction
Agent) or, (B) if the failure to make such calculation was for any other reason
or if the Index is not ascertainable on such date, the prior Auction Period
shall be extended to the seventh day following the day that would have been
the
last day of the preceding Auction Period (or if such seventh day is not followed
by a Business Day then to the next succeeding day that is followed
by a Business Day) and the Auction Period Rate for the period as so
extended shall be the same as the Auction Period Rate for the Auction Period
prior to the extension. In the event a new Auction Period is
established as set forth in clause (ii) (A) above, an Auction shall be held
on
the last Business Day of the new Auction Period to determine an Auction Rate
for
an Auction Period beginning on the Business Day immediately following the last
day of the new Auction Period and ending on the date on which the Auction Period
otherwise would have ended had there been no new Auction Period or Auction
Periods subsequent to the last Auction Period for which a Winning Bid Rate
had
been determined. In the event an Auction Period is extended as set
forth in clause (i) (B) or (ii) (B) above, an Auction shall be held on the
last Business Day of the Auction Period as so extended to determine an Auction
Rate for an Auction Period beginning on the Business Day immediately following
the last day of the extended Auction Period and ending on the date on which
the
Auction Period otherwise would have ended had there been no extension of the
prior Auction Period.
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, neither new nor extended Auction Periods shall total more than
35
days in the aggregate. If at the end of the 35 days the Auction Agent
fails to calculate or provide the Auction Rate, or there is not at the time
a
duly appointed and acting Auction Agent or Broker-Dealer, the Auction Period
Rate shall be the Maximum Rate.
(d) In
the
event of a failed conversion from an Auction Period to any other period or
in
the event of a failure to change the length of the current Auction Period due
to
the lack of Sufficient Clearing Bids at the Auction on the Auction Date for
the
first new Auction Period, the Auction Period Rate for the next Auction Period
shall be the Maximum Rate and the Auction Period shall be a seven-day Auction
Period.
(e) If
the
Notes are no longer maintained in book-entry-only form by the Securities
Depository, then the Auctions shall cease and the Auction Period Rate shall
be
the Maximum Rate.
Section
2.05. Allocation
of Notes.
(a) In
the
event of Sufficient Clearing Bids for a Series of Notes, subject to the further
provisions of subsections (c) and (d) below, Submitted Orders for each Series
of
Notes shall be accepted or rejected as follows in the following order of
priority:
(i) the
Submitted Hold Order of each Existing Owner shall be accepted, thus requiring
each such Existing Owner to continue to hold the Notes that are the subject
of
such Submitted Hold Order;
(ii) the
Submitted Sell Order of each Existing Owner shall be accepted and the Submitted
Bid of each Existing Owner specifying any rate that is higher than the Winning
Bid Rate shall be rejected, thus requiring each such Existing Owner to sell
the
Notes that are the subject of such Submitted Sell Order or Submitted
Bid;
(iii) the
Submitted Bid of each Existing Owner specifying any rate that is lower than
the
Winning Bid Rate shall be accepted, thus requiring each such Existing Owner
to
continue to hold the Notes that are the subject of such Submitted
Bid;
(iv) the
Submitted Bid of each Potential Owner specifying any rate that is lower than
the
Winning Bid Rate shall be accepted, thus requiring each such Potential Owner
to
purchase the Notes that are the subject of such Submitted Bid;
(v) the
Submitted Bid of each Existing Owner specifying a rate that is equal to the
Winning Bid Rate shall be accepted, thus requiring each such Existing Owner
to
continue to hold the Notes that are the subject of such Submitted Bid, but
only
up to and including the number of Units of Notes obtained by multiplying
(A) the aggregate number of Units of Outstanding Notes which are not the
subject of Submitted Hold Orders described in clause (i) above or of Submitted
Bids described in clauses (iii) or (iv) above by (B) a fraction the
numerator of which shall be the number of Units of Outstanding Notes held by
such Existing Owner subject to such Submitted Bid and the denominator of which
shall be the aggregate number of Units of Outstanding Notes subject to such
Submitted Bids made by all such Existing Owners that specified a rate equal
to
the Winning Bid Rate, and the remainder, if any, of such Submitted Bid shall
be
rejected, thus requiring each such Existing Owner to sell any excess amount
of
Notes;
(vi) the
Submitted Bid of each Potential Owner specifying a rate that is equal to the
Winning Bid Rate shall be accepted, thus requiring each such Potential Owner
to
purchase the Notes that are the subject of such Submitted Bid, but only in
an
amount equal to the number of Units of Notes obtained by multiplying
(A) the aggregate number of Units of Outstanding Notes which are not the
subject of Submitted Hold Orders described in clause (i) above or of Submitted
Bids described in clauses (iii), (iv) or (v) above by (B) a fraction the
numerator of which shall be the number of Units of Outstanding Notes subject
to
such Submitted Bid and the denominator of which shall be the sum of the
aggregate number of Units of Outstanding Notes subject to such Submitted Bids
made by all such Potential Owners that specified a rate equal to the Winning
Bid
Rate, and the remainder of such Submitted Bid shall be rejected;
and
(vii) the
Submitted Bid of each Potential Owner specifying any rate that is higher than
the Winning Bid Rate shall be rejected.
(b) In
the
event there are not Sufficient Clearing Bids for a Series of Notes, Submitted
Orders for each Series of Notes shall be accepted or rejected as follows in
the
following order of priority:
(i) the
Submitted Hold Order of each Existing Owner shall be accepted, thus requiring
each such Existing Owner to continue to hold the Notes that are the subject
of
such Submitted Hold Order;
(ii) the
Submitted Bid of each Existing Owner specifying any rate that is not higher
than
the Maximum Rate shall be accepted, thus requiring each such Existing Owner
to
continue to hold the Notes that are the subject of such Submitted
Bid;
(iii) the
Submitted Bid of each Potential Owner specifying any rate that is not higher
than the Maximum Rate shall be accepted, thus requiring each such Potential
Owner to purchase the Notes that are the subject of such Submitted
Bid;
(iv) the
Submitted Sell Orders of each Existing Owner shall be accepted as Submitted
Sell
Orders and the Submitted Bids of each Existing Owner specifying any rate that
is
higher than the Maximum Rate shall be deemed to be and shall be accepted as
Submitted Sell Orders, in both cases only up to and including the number of
Units of Notes obtained by multiplying (A) the aggregate number of Units of
Notes subject to Submitted Bids described in clause (iii) of this subsection
(b)
by (B) a fraction the numerator of which shall be the number of Units of
Outstanding Notes held by such Existing Owner subject to such Submitted Sell
Order or such Submitted Bid deemed to be a Submitted Sell Order and the
denominator of which shall be the number of Units of Outstanding Notes subject
to all such Submitted Sell Orders and such Submitted Bids deemed to be Submitted
Sell Orders, and the remainder of each such Submitted Sell Order or Submitted
Bid shall be deemed to be and shall be accepted as a Hold Order and each such
Existing Owner shall be required to continue to hold such excess amount of
Notes; and
(v) the
Submitted Bid of each Potential Owner specifying any rate that is higher than
the Maximum Rate shall be rejected.
(c) If,
as a
result of the undertakings described in Section 2.05(a) or (b) above, any
Existing Owner or Potential Owner would be required to purchase or sell an
aggregate principal amount of the Notes that is not an integral multiple of an
Authorized Denomination on any Auction Date, the Auction Agent shall by lot,
in
such manner as it shall determine in its sole discretion, round up or down
the
principal amount of the Notes to be purchased or sold by any Existing Owner
or
Potential Owner on such Auction Date so that the aggregate principal amount
of
the Notes purchased or sold by each Existing Owner or Potential Owner on such
Auction Date shall be an integral multiple of such Authorized Denomination,
even
if such allocation results in one or more of such Existing Owners or Potential
Owners not purchasing or selling any Notes on such Auction Date.
(d) If,
as a
result of the undertakings described in Section 2.05(a) above, any Potential
Owner would be required to purchase less than an Authorized Denomination in
principal amount of the Notes on any Auction Date, the Auction Agent shall
by
lot, in such manner as it shall determine in its sole discretion, allocate
the
Notes for purchase among Potential owners so that the principal amount of the
Notes purchased on such Auction Date by any Potential Owner shall be an integral
multiple of such Authorized Denomination, even if such allocation results in
one
or more of such potential Owners not purchasing the Notes on such Auction
Date.
Section
2.06. Notice
of Auction Period Rate. (a)
On each Auction Date, the
Auction Agent shall notify each Broker-Dealer that participated in the Auction
held on such Auction Date by Electronic Means acceptable to the Auction Agent
and the applicable Broker-Dealer of the following, with respect to each Series
of Notes for which an Auction was held on such Auction Date:
(i) the
Auction Period Rate determined on such Auction Date for the succeeding Auction
Period;
(ii) whether
Sufficient Clearing Bids existed for the determination of the Winning Bid
Rate;
(iii) if
such
Broker-Dealer submitted a Bid or a Sell Order on behalf of an Existing Owner,
whether such Bid or Sell Order was accepted or rejected and the number of Units
of Notes, if any, to be sold by such Existing Owner;
(iv) if
such
Broker-Dealer submitted a Bid on behalf of a Potential Owner, whether such
Bid
was accepted or rejected and the number of Units of Notes, if any, to be
purchased by such Potential Owner;
(v) if
the
aggregate number of Units of the Notes to be sold by all Existing Owners on
whose behalf such Broker-Dealer submitted Bids or Sell Orders is different
from
the aggregate number of Units of Notes to be purchased by all Potential Owners
on whose behalf such Broker-Dealer submitted a Bid, the name or names of one
or
more Broker-Dealers (and the Agent Member, if any, of each such other
Broker-Dealer) and the number of Units of Notes to be (A) purchased from
one or more Existing Owners on whose behalf such other Broker-Dealers submitted
Bids or Sell Orders or (B) sold to one or more Potential Owners on whose
behalf such Broker-Dealer submitted Bids;
(vi) the
amount of dividend or interest payable per Unit on each Interest Payment Date
with respect to such Auction Period; and
(vii) the
immediately succeeding Auction Date.
(b) On
each
Auction Date, with respect to each Series of Notes for which an Auction was
held
on such Auction Date, each Broker-Dealer that submitted an Order on behalf
of
any Existing Owner or Potential Owner shall: (i) if requested by an
Existing Owner or a Potential Owner, advise such Existing Owner or Potential
Owner on whose behalf such Broker-Dealer submitted an Order as to (A) the
Auction Period Rate determined on such Auction Date, (B) whether any Bid or
Sell Order submitted on behalf of such Owner was accepted or rejected and
(C) the immediately succeeding Auction Date; (ii) instruct each
Potential Owner on whose behalf such Broker-Dealer submitted a Bid that was
accepted, in whole or in part, to instruct such Potential Owner’s Agent Member
to pay to such Broker-Dealer (or its Agent Member) through the Securities
Depository the amount necessary to purchase the number of Units of Notes to
be
purchased pursuant to such Bid (including, with respect to the Notes in a daily
Auction Period, accrued interest if the purchase date is not an Interest Payment
Date for such Note) against receipt of such Notes; and (iii) instruct each
Existing Owner on whose behalf such Broker-Dealer submitted a Sell Order that
was accepted or a Bid that was rejected in whole or in part, to instruct such
Existing Owner’s Agent Member to deliver to such Broker-Dealer (or its Agent
Member) through the Securities Depository the number of Units of Notes to be
sold pursuant to such Bid or Sell Order against payment therefor.
(c) The
Auction Agent shall give notice of the Auction Rate to the Corporation, Issuer
and Trustee by mutually acceptable Electronic Means and the Indenture Trustee
shall promptly give notice of such Auction Rate to the Securities
Depository.
Section
2.07. Index.
(a) If
for
any reason on any Auction Date the Index shall not be determined as provided
in
Schedule I, the Index shall be the Index for the Auction Period ending on such
Auction Date.
(b) The
determination of the Index as provided in Schedule I and herein shall be
conclusive and binding upon the Issuer, the Corporation, the Indenture Trustee,
the Broker-Dealers, the Auction Agent and the Owners of the Notes.
Section
2.08. Miscellaneous
Provisions Regarding Auctions.
(a) In
this
Exhibit, each reference to the purchase, sale or holding of Notes shall refer
to
beneficial interests in Notes, unless the context clearly requires
otherwise.
(b) During
an
ARS Rate Period with respect to each Series of Notes, the provisions of the
Authorizing Document and the definitions contained therein and described in
this
Exhibit, including without limitation the definitions of All Hold Rate, Index,
Interest Payment Date, Maximum Rate, Auction Period Rate and Auction Rate,
may
be amended pursuant to the Authorizing Document by obtaining the consent of
the
owners of all affected Outstanding Notes bearing interest at the Auction Period
Rate as follows. If on the first Auction Date occurring at least 20
days after the date on which the Indenture Trustee mailed notice of such
proposed amendment to the registered owners of the affected Outstanding Notes
as
required by the Authorizing Document, (i) the Auction Period Rate which is
determined on such date is the Winning Bid Rate or the All Hold Rate and
(ii) there is delivered to the Corporation and the Indenture Trustee an
opinion of Note Counsel to the effect that such amendment shall not adversely
affect the validity of the Notes or any exemption from federal income taxation
to which the interest on the Notes would otherwise be entitled, the proposed
amendment shall be deemed to have been consented to by the registered owners
of
all affected Outstanding Notes bearing interest at an Auction Period
Rate.
(c) If
the
Securities Depository notifies the Issuer that it is unwilling or unable to
continue as registered owner of the Notes or if at any time the Securities
Depository shall no longer be registered or in good standing under the Exchange
Act, or other applicable statute or regulation and a successor to the Securities
Depository is not appointed by the Issuer within 90 days after the Issuer
receives notice or becomes aware of such condition, as the case may be, the
Auctions shall cease and the Issuer shall execute and the Indenture Trustee
shall authenticate and deliver certificates representing the
Notes. Such Notes shall be registered in such names and Authorized
Denominations as the Securities Depository, pursuant to instructions from the
Agent Members or otherwise, shall instruct the Issuer and the Indenture
Trustee.
During
an
ARS Rate Period, so long as the ownership of the Notes is maintained in
book-entry form by the Securities Depository, an Existing Owner or a beneficial
owner may sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of a Note only pursuant to a
Bid
or Sell Order in accordance with the Auction Procedures or to or through a
Broker-Dealer, provided that (i) in the case of all transfers other than
pursuant to Auctions, such Existing Owner or its Broker-Dealer or its Agent
Member advises the Auction Agent of such transfer and (ii) a sale, transfer
or other disposition of Notes from a customer of a Broker-Dealer who is listed
on the records of that Broker-Dealer as the holder of such Notes to that
Broker-Dealer or another customer of that Broker-Dealer shall not be deemed
to
be a sale, transfer or other disposition for purposes of this paragraph if
such
Broker-Dealer remains the Existing Owner of the Notes so sold, transferred
or
disposed of immediately after such sale, transfer or disposition.
(d) Unless
specifically provided otherwise in Schedule I, the Auction Agent shall continue
to implement the Auction Procedures notwithstanding the occurrence of an Event
of Default under the Indenture.
Section
2.09. Changes
in Auction Period or Auction Date.
(a) Changes
in Auction Period.
(i) During
any ARS Rate Period, the Corporation, may, from time to time on the Interest
Payment Date immediately following the end of any Auction Period, change the
length of the Auction Period with respect to all of the Notes of a Series among
daily, seven-days, 28-days, 35-days, three months, six months or a Flexible
Auction Period in order to accommodate economic and financial factors that
may
affect or be relevant to the length of the Auction Period and the interest
rate
borne by such Notes. The Corporation shall initiate the change in the
length of the Auction Period by giving written notice to the Issuer, the
Indenture Trustee, the Auction Agent, the Broker-Dealers and the Securities
Depository that the Auction Period shall change if the conditions described
herein are satisfied and the proposed effective date of the change, at least
10
Business Days prior to the Auction Date for such Auction Period.
(ii) Any
such
changed Auction Period shall be for a period of one day, seven-days, 28-days,
35-days, three months, six months or a Flexible Auction Period and shall be
for
all of the Notes of such Series.
(iii) The
change in length of the Auction Period shall take effect only if Sufficient
Clearing Bids exist at the Auction on the Auction Date for such new Auction
Period. For purposes of the Auction for such new Auction Period only,
except to the extent any Existing Owner submits an Order with respect to such
Notes of any Series, each Existing Owner shall be deemed to have submitted
Sell
Orders with respect to all of its Notes of such Series if the change is to
a
longer Auction Period and a Hold Order if the change is to a shorter Auction
Period. If there are not Sufficient Clearing Bids for the first
Auction Period, the Auction Rate for the new Auction Period shall be the Maximum
Rate, and the Auction Period shall be a seven-day Auction Period.
(b) Changes
in Auction Date. During any ARS Rate Period, the Auction Agent,
at the direction of the Corporation, may specify an earlier or later Auction
Date (but in no event more than five Business Days earlier or later) than the
Auction Date that would otherwise be determined in accordance with the
definition of “Auction Date” in order to conform with then current market
practice with respect to similar securities or to accommodate economic and
financial factors that may affect or be relevant to the day of the week
constituting an Auction Date and the interest rate borne by the
Notes. The Auction Agent shall provide notice of the Corporation’s
direction to specify an earlier Auction Date for an Auction Period by means
of a
written notice delivered at least 45 days prior to the proposed changed Auction
Date to the Indenture Trustee, the Issuer, the Corporation and the
Broker-Dealers with a copy to the Securities
Depository. In the event the Auction Agent is instructed to specify
an earlier Auction Date, the days of the week on which an Auction Period begins
and ends, the day of the week on which a Flexible Auction Period ends and the
Interest Payment Date relating to a Flexible Auction Period shall be adjusted
accordingly.
(c) Changes
Resulting from Unscheduled Holidays. If, in the opinion of the
Auction Agent and the Broker-Dealers, there is insufficient notice of an
unscheduled holiday to allow the efficient implementation of the Auction
Procedures set forth herein, the Auction Agent and the Broker-Dealers may,
as
they deem appropriate, set a different Auction Date and adjust any Interest
Payment Dates and Auction Periods affected by such unscheduled
holiday. In the event that there is not agreement among the
Broker-Dealers, the Auction Agent shall set the different Auction Date and
make
such adjustments as directed by the Broker-Dealer for a majority of the
outstanding Units (based on the number of Units for which a Broker-Dealer is
listed as the Broker-Dealer in the Existing Owner Registry maintained by the
Auction Agent pursuant to Section 2.2(a) of the Auction Agreement), and, if
there is not a majority so directing, the Auction Date shall be moved to the
next succeeding Business Day following the scheduled Auction Date, and the
Interest Payment Date and the Auction Period shall be adjusted
accordingly.
SCHEDULE
I
to
AUCTION
PROCEDURES
In
the
event of any conflict between this Schedule I and Appendix B, this Schedule
I
shall prevail.
Definitions
“All
Hold Rate” means, as of any Auction Date, 90% of the Index in effect on
such Auction Date.
“Applicable
Margin”
means (A) 1.50%, provided that the Notes are rated at least “Aa3” and “AA-” by
Moody’s and S&P, respectively, (B) 2.50%, provided that the Notes are rated
below “Aa3” and “AA-“ but at least “A3” and “A-” by Moody’s and S&P,
respectively, or (C) 3.50%, provided that the Notes are rated below “A3” and
“A-” by Moody’s and S&P, respectively,
“Auction
Agent” shall
initially be The Bank of New York.
“Auction
Agent Fee” shall mean the fee to be paid to the Auction Agent for the
services rendered by it under the Auction Agreement and the Broker-Dealer
Agreements.
“Auction
Date” shall
include as part of the definition the first Auction Date which shall be October
9, 2007 for the Class A-2-AR-1 Notes, October 9, 2007 for the Class A-2-AR-2
Notes, October 9, 2007 for the Class A-2-AR-3 Notes, October 9, 2007 for the
Class A-2-AR-4 Notes, October 11, 2007, for the Class A-3-AR-1 Notes, October
16, 2007, for the Class A-3-AR-2 Notes, October 11, 2007, for the Class A-3-AR-3
Notes, October 16, 2007, for the Class A-3-AR-4 Notes, October 11, 2007, for
the
Class A-3-AR-5 Notes, October 16, 2007, for the Class A-3-AR-6 Notes and October
16, 2007, for the Class A-3-AR-7 Notes.
“Auction
Rate Notes” shall mean the Class A-2-AR Notes and the Class A-3-AR
Notes.
“Authorized
Denomination” means $25,000.
“Authorizing
Document”
means the Indenture.
“Notes”
means the
Auction Rate Notes.
“Notes”
means the
Auction Rate Notes.
“Broker-Dealer
Fee”
shall mean the fee to be paid to a Broker-Dealer for the services rendered
by a
Broker-Dealer under a Broker-Dealer Agreement.
“Carry-over
Amount” shall mean the excess, if any, of (a) the amount of interest on
a Class of Auction Rate Note that would have accrued with respect to the related
Auction Period at the Auction Rate (if an Auction is not held for any reason,
the Auction Rate shall be deemed to be the Maximum Rate for purposes of this
definition) over (b) the amount of interest on such Class of Auction Rate Note
with respect to such Class of Auction Rate Note, with respect to such Auction
Period based on the least of the Maximum Auction Rate, the Maximum Interest
Rate, or the maximum interest rate permitted by law, together with the unpaid
portion of any such excess from prior Auction Periods; provided that any
reference to “principal” or “interest” in the Indenture, and in the Auction Rate
Notes shall not include within the meanings of such words any Carry-over Amount
or any interest accrued on any Carry-over Amount.
“Corporation”
means
the Issuer.
“Index”
means
on any
Auction Date with respect to Notes in any Auction Period of 35 days or less,
One-Month LIBOR. The Index with respect to Notes in any Auction Period of more
than 35 days shall be the rate on United States Treasury Securities having
a
maturity which most closely approximates the length of the Auction Period as
last published in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as may be
mutually agreed upon by the Issuer and the Broker-Dealers. If either
rate is unavailable, the Index shall be an index or rate agreed to by all
Broker-Dealers and consented to by the Corporation and the
Issuer. For the purpose of this definition an Auction Period of 35
days or less means a 35-day Auction Period or shorter Auction Period, i.e.
a
35-day Auction Period which is extended because of a holiday would still be
considered an Auction Period of 35 days or less.
“Initial
Period” means the period from the Closing Date to but not including the
first Interest Payment Date with respect to the Auction Rate Notes.
“Initial
Period Rate” means 6.50%.
“Interest
Payment Date”
includes the first Interest Payment Date which shall be October 10,
2007, for the Class A-2-AR-1 Notes, October 10, 2007, for the Class A-2-AR-2
Notes, October 10, 2007, for the Class A-2-AR-3 Notes, October 10, 2007, for
the
Class A-2-AR-4 Notes, October 12, 2007, for the Class A-3-AR-1 Notes, October
17, 2007, for the Class A-3-AR-2 Notes, October 12, 2007, for the Class A-3-AR-3
Notes, October 17, 2007, for the Class A-3-AR-4 Notes, October 12, 2007, for
the
Class A-3-AR-5 Notes, October 17, 2007, for the Class A-3-AR-6 Notes and October
17, 2007, for the Class A-3-AR-7 Notes.
“Issuer”
means The
National Collegiate Student Loan Trust 2007-3.
“Maximum
Auction
Rate” means the One-Month LIBOR plus the
Applicable Margin
“Maximum
Interest Rate” means 17%.
“Maximum
Rate” means the least of (i) the Maximum Auction
Rate; (ii) the Maximum Interest Rate; and (iii) the maximum interest rate
permitted by applicable law.
“Notes”
means the Auction Rate Notes.
“One-Month
LIBOR” shall mean the offered rate (rounded up to the next highest one
one thousandth of one percent (0.001%)) for deposits in U.S. dollars for a
one-month period which appears on the Reuters Screen LIBOR01 (or such other
page
as may replace that page on that service or such other service or services
as
may be nominated by the British Bankers’ Association for the purpose of
displaying London interbank offered rates for U.S. dollar deposits) at
approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, on such date, or if such date is not
a
date on which dealings in U.S. dollars are transacted in the London interbank
market, then on the next preceding day on which such dealings were transacted
in
such market.
Auction
Procedures
Determination
of Auction Period
Rate. The percentage of the Index in Section 2.04(c) is
100%.
Notwithstanding
any of the other provisions of the Auction Procedures, for purposes of enabling
the calculation by the Trustee of the Carry-over Amount, Orders otherwise
satisfying the requirements of the Auction Procedures shall not be rejected
by
either the Broker-Dealers or the Auction Agent because the specified rate
in the
Order exceeds the Maximum Auction Rate; provided, however, that Orders that
specify a rate in excess of the Maximum Interest Rate or (if lower and the
Broker-Dealer or Auction Agent, respectively, has been so notified by the
Issuer
or the Trustee) the maximum rate permitted by law shall (i) be treated as
a Sell
Order if submitted by an Existing Owner and (ii) not be accepted if submitted
by
a Potential Owner, in each case by each of the Broker-Dealers and the Auction
Agent. In connection with the Trustee's calculation of the Carry-over Amount,
the Auction Agent shall calculate the Auction Rate without regard to the
Maximum
Auction Rate. If the Auction Rate as so calculated exceeds the Maximum Auction
Rate, the Auction Agent shall report this excess to the Trustee and the
Broker-Dealers on the Auction Date. The Auction Period Rate determined as
a
result of the Auction shall not exceed the Maximum Rate. The Carry-over Amount
shall not be taken into account in calculating the Auction Period
Rate.
EXHIBIT
B
FORM
OF
BROKER-DEALER AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT
C
Banc
of
America Securities LLC
Citigroup
Global Markets Inc.
Xxxxxxx,
Sachs & Co.
UBS
Securities LLC