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TRUST AGREEMENT
between
NATIONAL FINANCIAL AUTO FUNDING TRUST
and
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
Owner Trustee
Dated as of December 15, 1997
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.1 Capitalized Terms......................................................................1
SECTION 1.2. Other Definitional Provisions..........................................................3
SECTION 1.3. Action by or Consent of Noteholders and Certificateholders.............................4
SECTION 1.4 Material Adverse Effect................................................................4
ARTICLE II
ORGANIZATION
SECTION 2.1. Name...................................................................................5
SECTION 2.2. Office.................................................................................5
SECTION 2.3. Purposes and Powers....................................................................5
SECTION 2.4. Appointment of Owner Trustee...........................................................6
SECTION 2.5. Initial Capital Contribution of Trust Estate...........................................6
SECTION 2.6. Declaration of Trust...................................................................6
SECTION 2.7. Liability..............................................................................6
SECTION 2.8. Title to Trust Property................................................................6
SECTION 2.9. Situs of Trust.........................................................................7
SECTION 2.10. Representations and Warranties of the Depositor........................................7
SECTION 2.11. Federal Income Tax Allocations.........................................................8
SECTION 2.12. Covenants of the Depositor.............................................................8
SECTION 2.13. Covenants of the Certificateholders....................................................9
ARTICLE III
CERTIFICATES AND TRANSFER OF INTERESTS
SECTION 3.1. Initial Ownership.....................................................................10
SECTION 3.2. Signature on Certificates.............................................................10
SECTION 3.3. Authentication of Certificates........................................................11
SECTION 3.4. Registration of Transfer and Exchange of Certificates.................................11
SECTION 3.5. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates.....................................13
SECTION 3.6. Persons Deemed Certificateholders.....................................................14
SECTION 3.7. Access to List of Certificateholders' Names and Addresses.............................14
SECTION 3.8. Maintenance of Office or Agency.......................................................14
SECTION 3.9. ERISA Restrictions....................................................................14
SECTION 3.10. Securities Matters....................................................................15
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ARTICLE IV
VOTING RIGHTS AND OTHER ACTIONS
SECTION 4.1. Prior Notice to Holders with Respect to Certain Matters...............................15
SECTION 4.2. Action by Certificateholders with Respect to Certain Matters..........................16
SECTION 4.3. Action by Certificateholders with Respect to Bankruptcy...............................16
SECTION 4.4. Restrictions on Certificateholders' Power.............................................16
SECTION 4.5. Majority Control......................................................................17
SECTION 4.6. Rights of Insurer.....................................................................17
ARTICLE V
CERTAIN DUTIES
SECTION 5.1. Accounting and Records to the Noteholders, Certificateholders, the Internal Revenue
Service and Others..................................................................18
SECTION 5.2. Signature on Returns; Tax Matters Partner.............................................18
SECTION 5.3. Underwriting Agreement................................................................19
ARTICLE VI
AUTHORITY AND DUTIES OF OWNER TRUSTEE
SECTION 6.1. General Authority.....................................................................19
SECTION 6.2. General Duties........................................................................19
SECTION 6.3. Action upon Instruction...............................................................19
SECTION 6.4. No Duties Except as Specified in this Agreement or in Instructions....................20
SECTION 6.5. No Action Except under Specified Documents or Instructions............................21
SECTION 6.6. Restrictions..........................................................................21
ARTICLE VII
CONCERNING THE OWNER TRUSTEE
SECTION 7.1. Acceptance of Trusts and Duties.......................................................21
SECTION 7.2. Furnishing of Documents...............................................................23
SECTION 7.3. Representations and Warranties........................................................23
SECTION 7.4. Reliance; Advice of Counsel...........................................................23
SECTION 7.5. Not Acting in Individual Capacity.....................................................24
SECTION 7.6. Owner Trustee Not Liable for Certificates or Receivables..............................24
SECTION 7.7. Owner Trustee May Own Certificates and Notes..........................................25
SECTION 7.8. Payments from Owner Trust Estate......................................................25
SECTION 7.9. Doing Business in Other Jurisdictions.................................................25
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ARTICLE VIII
COMPENSATION OF OWNER TRUSTEE
SECTION 8.1. Owner Trustee's Fees and Expenses.....................................................25
SECTION 8.2. Indemnification.......................................................................26
SECTION 8.3. Payments to the Owner Trustee.........................................................26
SECTION 8.4. Non-recourse Obligations..............................................................24
ARTICLE IX
TERMINATION OF TRUST AGREEMENT
SECTION 9.1. Termination of Trust Agreement........................................................26
ARTICLE X
SUCCESSOR OWNER TRUSTEES AND ADDITIONAL OWNER TRUSTEES
SECTION 10.1. Eligibility Requirements for Owner Trustee............................................28
SECTION 10.2. Resignation or Removal of Owner Trustee...............................................28
SECTION 10.3. Successor Owner Trustee...............................................................29
SECTION 10.4. Merger or Consolidation of Owner Trustee..............................................30
SECTION 10.5. Appointment of Co-Trustee or Separate Trustee.........................................30
ARTICLE XI
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 11.1. Supplements and Amendments............................................................31
SECTION 11.2. Limitations on Rights of Others.......................................................33
SECTION 11.3. Notices...............................................................................33
SECTION 11.4. Severability..........................................................................33
SECTION 11.5. Separate Counterparts.................................................................33
SECTION 11.6. Assignments; Insurer..................................................................34
SECTION 11.7. No Petition...........................................................................34
SECTION 11.8. No Recourse...........................................................................34
SECTION 11.9. Headings..............................................................................34
SECTION 11.10. Governing Law.........................................................................34
SECTION 11.11. Servicer..............................................................................34
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Exhibit A Form of Certificate
Exhibit B Form of Certificate of Trust
Exhibit C Form of Purchaser Representation Letter
Exhibit D Form of Transferee Representation Letter
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TRUST AGREEMENT dated as of December 15, 1997 between NATIONAL
FINANCIAL AUTO FUNDING TRUST, a Delaware business trust (the "Depositor"), and
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, a Delaware banking corporation, as Owner Trustee.
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
Capitalized Terms. For all purposes of this Agreement, the
following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
"Affiliate" shall mean with respect to any specified Person, a
Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls
or is controlled by, or is under common control with, or owns, directly or
indirectly, 50% or more of, the Person specified.
"Agreement" shall mean this Trust Agreement, as the same may
be amended and supplemented from time to time.
"Basic Documents" shall mean this Agreement, the Certificate
of Trust, the Sale and Servicing Agreement, the Spread Account Agreement, the
Insurance Agreement, the Indenture and the other documents and certificates
delivered in connection therewith.
"Benefit Plan" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 3.9.
"Business Trust Statute" shall mean Chapter 38 of Title 12 of
the Delaware Code, 12 Del. Code ss.. 3801 et. seq. as the same may be amended
from time to time.
"Certificate" means a trust certificate evidencing the
beneficial ownership interest of a Certificateholder in the Trust, substantially
in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto.
"Certificate of Trust" shall mean the Certificate of Trust in
the form of Exhibit B to be filed for the Trust pursuant to Section 3810(a) of
the Business Trust Statute.
"Certificate Register" and "Certificate Registrar" shall mean
the register mentioned and the registrar appointed pursuant to Section 3.4.
"Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended from time to time, and Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder.
"Corporate Trust Office" shall mean, with respect to the Owner
Trustee, the principal corporate trust office of the Owner Trustee located at
Xxxxxx Square North, 0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000-0000,
Attention: Corporate Trust Administration, or at such other address as the Owner
Trustee may designate by notice to the Certificateholders and the Depositor, or
the principal corporate trust office of any successor Owner Trustee (the address
of which the successor owner trustee will notify the Certificateholders and the
Depositor).
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"Definitive Certificates" shall mean Certificates issued in
certificated, fully registered form.
"Depositor" shall mean National Financial Auto Funding Trust
in its capacity as Depositor hereunder.
"Depositor Trust Agreement" shall mean the First Amended and
Restated Trust Agreement, dated as of December 8, 1994, between National Auto
Finance Company, Inc. and The Chase Manhattan Bank (Delaware), as trustee, as
the same may be amended and supplemented from time to time.
"Distribution Account" shall mean the account designated as
such as established and maintained pursuant to the Sale and Servicing Agreement.
"ERISA" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 3.9.
"Expenses" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 8.2.
"Holder" or "Certificateholder" shall mean the Person in whose
name a Certificate is registered on the Certificate Register.
"Indemnified Parties" shall have the meaning assigned to such
term in Section 8.2.
"Indenture" shall mean the Indenture dated as of December 15,
1997, between the Issuer and Xxxxxx Trust and Savings Bank, as Trust Collateral
Agent and Indenture Trustee, as the same may be amended and supplemented from
time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.
"Indenture Trustee" shall mean, initially Xxxxxx Trust and
Savings Bank, in its capacity as indenture trustee, including its successors in
interest, until and unless a successor Person shall have become the Indenture
Trustee pursuant to the Sale and Servicing Agreement and thereafter "Indenture
Trustee" shall mean such successor Person.
"Insurer" shall mean Financial Security Assurance Inc., or its
successor in interest.
"Instructing Party" shall have the meaning assigned to such
term in Section 6.3.
"Owner Trust Estate" shall mean all right, title and interest
of the Trust in and to the property and rights assigned to the Trust pursuant to
Article II of the Sale and Servicing Agreement, all funds on deposit from time
to time in the Trust Accounts and all other property of the Trust from time to
time, including any rights of the Owner Trustee and the Trust pursuant to the
Sale and Servicing Agreement and the Spread Account Agreement.
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"Owner Trustee" shall mean Wilmington Trust Company, a
Delaware banking corporation, not in its individual capacity but solely as owner
trustee under this Agreement, and any successor Owner Trustee hereunder.
"Record Date" shall mean with respect to any Distribution
Date, the close of business on the last Business Day immediately preceding such
Distribution Date.
"Sale and Servicing Agreement" shall mean the Sale and
Servicing Agreement among the Trust, National Financial Auto Funding Trust, as
Seller, National Auto Finance Company, Inc., as Servicer and the Trust
Collateral Agent, dated as of December 15, 1997, as the same may be amended and
supplemented from time to time.
"Secretary of State" shall mean the Secretary of State of the
State of Delaware.
"Security Majority" means a majority by principal amount of
the Noteholders so long as the Notes are outstanding and a majority by principal
amount of the Certificateholders thereafter.
"Spread Account" shall mean the Series Spread Account
established and maintained pursuant to the Spread Account Agreement.
"Spread Account Agreement" shall mean the Spread Account
Agreement, dated as of January 20, 1998, among National Financial Auto Funding
Trust, the Insurer, and Xxxxxx Trust and Savings Bank, as Trust Collateral Agent
and as Collateral Agent, as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise
modified from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.
"Treasury Regulations" shall mean regulations, including
proposed or temporary regulations, promulgated under the Code. References herein
to specific provisions of proposed or temporary regulations shall include
analogous provisions of final Treasury Regulations or other successor Treasury
Regulations.
"Trust" shall mean the trust established by this Agreement.
"Trust Accounts" shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in
the Sale and Servicing Agreement.
"Trust Collateral Agent" shall mean, initially, Xxxxxx Trust
and Savings Bank, in its capacity as collateral agent, including its successors
in interest, until and unless a successor Person shall have become the Trust
Collateral Agent pursuant to the Sale and Servicing Agreement, and thereafter
"Trust Collateral Agent" shall mean such successor Person.
SECTION 1.2. Other Definitional Provisions.
(a) Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined
have the meanings assigned to them in the Sale and Servicing Agreement or, if
not defined therein, in the Spread Account Agreement or in the Indenture.
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(b) All terms defined in this Agreement shall have the defined
meanings when used in any certificate or other document made or delivered
pursuant hereto unless otherwise defined therein.
(c) As used in this Agreement and in any certificate or other
document made or delivered pursuant hereto or thereto, accounting terms not
defined in this Agreement or in any such certificate or other document, and
accounting terms partly defined in this Agreement or in any such certificate or
other document to the extent not defined, shall have the respective meanings
given to them under generally accepted accounting principles as in effect on the
date of this Agreement or any such certificate or other document, as applicable.
To the extent that the definitions of accounting terms in this Agreement or in
any such certificate or other document are inconsistent with the meanings of
such terms under generally accepted accounting principles, the definitions
contained in this Agreement or in any such certificate or other document shall
control.
(d) The words "hereof," "herein," "hereunder" and words of
similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a
whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement; Section and Exhibit
references contained in this Agreement are references to Sections and Exhibits
in or to this Agreement unless otherwise specified; and the term "including"
shall mean "including without limitation."
(e) The definitions contained in this Agreement are applicable
to the singular as well as the plural forms of such terms and to the masculine
as well as to the feminine and neuter genders of such terms.
SECTION 1.3. Action by or Consent of Noteholders and
Certificateholders. Whenever any provision of this Agreement refers to action to
be taken, or consented to, by Noteholders or Certificateholders, such provision
shall be deemed to refer to the Certificateholder or Noteholder, as the case may
be, of record as of the Record Date immediately preceding the date on which such
action is to be taken, or consent given, by Noteholders or Certificateholders.
Solely for the purposes of any action to be taken, or consented to, by
Noteholders, any Note registered in the name of the Seller or any Affiliate
thereof shall be deemed not to be outstanding; provided, however, that, solely
for the purpose of determining whether the Indenture Trustee or the Trust
Collateral Agent is entitled to rely upon any such action or consent, only Notes
which the Owner Trustee, the Indenture Trustee or the Trust Collateral Agent,
respectively, knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded.
SECTION 1.4. Material Adverse Effect. Whenever a determination
is to be made under this Agreement as to whether a given event, action, course
of conduct or set of facts or circumstances could or would have a material
adverse effect on the Noteholders or Certificateholders (or any similar or
analogous determination), such determination shall be made without taking into
account the funds available from claims under the Policy.
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ARTICLE II
ORGANIZATION
Name. There is hereby formed a trust to be known as "National Auto
Finance 1998-1 Trust", in which name the Owner Trustee may conduct the business
of the Trust, make and execute contracts and other instruments on behalf of the
Trust and xxx and be sued.
SECTION 2.2. Office. The office of the Trust shall be in care of the
Owner Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office or at such other address as the
Owner Trustee may designate by written notice to the Certificateholders and the
Depositor.
SECTION 2.3. Purposes and Powers. (a) The purpose of the Trust is,
and the Trust shall have the power and authority, to engage in the following
activities: (i) to issue the Notes pursuant to the Indenture and the
Certificates pursuant to this Agreement, and to sell the Notes; (ii) with the
proceeds of the sale of the Notes, to fund the Pre-Funding Account, the
Pre-Funding Period Reserve Account and the Spread Account and to pay the
organizational, start-up and transactional expenses of the Trust and to pay the
balance to the Depositor pursuant to the Sale and Servicing Agreement; (iii) to
assign, grant, transfer, pledge, mortgage and convey the Owner Trust Estate
(other than the Distribution Account) to the Trust Collateral Agent pursuant to
the Indenture for the benefit of the Insurer and the Indenture Trustee on behalf
of the Noteholders and to hold, manage and distribute to the Certificateholders
and the Depositor pursuant to the terms of the Sale and Servicing Agreement any
portion of the Owner Trust Estate released from the Lien of, and remitted to the
Trust pursuant to, the Indenture; (iv) to enter into and perform its obligations
under the Basic Documents to which it is a party; (v) to engage in those
activities, including entering into agreements, that are necessary, suitable or
convenient to accomplish the foregoing or are incidental thereto or connected
therewith; and (vi) subject to compliance with the Basic Documents, to engage in
such other activities as may be required in connection with conservation of the
Owner Trust Estate and the making of distributions to the Certificateholders and
the Noteholders.
The Trust is hereby authorized to engage in the foregoing activities.
The Trust shall not engage in any activity other than in connection with the
foregoing or other than as required or authorized by the terms of this Agreement
or the Basic Documents.
SECTION 2.4. Appointment of Owner Trustee. The Depositor hereby
appoints the Owner Trustee as trustee of the Trust effective as of the date
hereof, to have all the rights, powers and duties set forth herein.
SECTION 2.5. Initial Capital Contribution of Trust Estate. The
Depositor hereby sells, assigns, transfers, conveys and sets over to the Owner
Trustee, as of the date hereof, the sum of $1. The Owner Trustee hereby
acknowledges receipt in trust from the Depositor, as of the date hereof, of the
foregoing contribution, which shall constitute the initial Owner Trust Estate
and shall be deposited in the Distribution Account. The Depositor shall pay
organizational expenses of the Trust as they may arise.
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SECTION 2.6. Declaration of Trust. The Owner Trustee hereby declares
that it will hold the Owner Trust Estate in trust upon and subject to the
conditions set forth herein for the use and benefit of the Certificateholders,
subject to the obligations of the Trust under the Basic Documents. It is the
intention of the parties hereto that the Trust constitute a business trust under
the Business Trust Statute and that this Agreement constitute the governing
instrument of such business trust. It is the intention of the parties hereto
that, solely for income tax purposes, the Trust shall be treated as a branch;
provided, however, that in the event Certificates are owned by more than one
Certificateholder, it is the intention of the parties hereto that, solely for
income and franchise tax purposes, the Trust shall then be treated as a
partnership and that, unless otherwise required by appropriate tax authorities,
only after such time the Trust will file or cause to be filed annual or other
necessary returns, reports and other forms consistent with the characterization
of the Trust as a partnership for such tax purposes. Effective as of the date
hereof, the Owner Trustee shall have all rights, powers and duties set forth
herein and to the extent not inconsistent herewith, in the Business Trust
Statute with respect to accomplishing the purposes of the Trust. The Owner
Trustee shall file the Certificate of Trust with the Secretary of State.
SECTION 2.7. Liability. (a) The Depositor shall pay organizational
expenses of the Trust as they may arise or shall, upon the request of the Owner
Trustee, promptly reimburse the Owner Trustee for any such expenses paid by the
Owner Trustee.
No Holder, other than to the extent set forth in
clause (a), shall have any personal liability for any liability or
obligation of the Trust.
SECTION 2.8. Title to Trust Property. (a) Legal title to all the
Owner Trust Estate shall be vested at all times in the Trust as a separate legal
entity except where applicable law in any jurisdiction requires title to any
part of the Owner Trust Estate to be vested in a trustee or trustees, in which
case title shall be deemed to be vested in the Owner Trustee, a co-trustee
and/or a separate trustee, as the case may be.
The Holders shall not have legal title to any part of
the Trust Property. The Holders shall be entitled to receive
distributions with respect to their undivided ownership interest
therein only in accordance with Articles V and IX. No transfer, by
operation of law or otherwise, of any right, title or interest by any
Certificateholder of its ownership interest in the Owner Trust Estate
shall operate to terminate this Agreement or the trusts hereunder or
entitle any transferee to an accounting or to the transfer to it of
legal title to any part of the Trust Property.
SECTION 2.9. Situs of Trust. The Trust will be located and
administered in the State of Delaware. All bank accounts maintained by the Owner
Trustee on behalf of the Trust shall be located in the State of Delaware or the
State of New York. Payments will be received by the Trust only in Delaware or
New York and payments will be made by the Trust only from Delaware or New York.
The Trust shall not have any employees in any state other than Delaware;
provided, however, that nothing herein shall restrict or prohibit the Owner
Trustee, the Servicer or any agent of the Trust from having employees within or
without the State of Delaware. The only office of the Trust will be at the
Corporate Trust Office in Delaware.
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SECTION 2.10. Representations and Warranties of the Depositor. The
Depositor makes the following representations and warranties on which the Owner
Trustee relies in accepting the Owner Trust Estate in trust and issuing the
Certificates and upon which the Insurer relies in issuing the Note Policy.
(a) Organization and Good Standing. The Depositor is duly organized
and validly existing as a Delaware business trust with power and authority to
own its properties and to conduct its business as such properties are currently
owned and such business is presently conducted and is proposed to be conducted
pursuant to this Agreement and the Basic Documents.
(b) Due Qualification. It is duly qualified to do business and in
good standing, and has obtained all necessary licenses and approvals, in all
jurisdictions in which the ownership or lease of its property, the conduct of
its business and the performance of its obligations under this Agreement and the
Basic Documents requires such qualification.
(c) Power and Authority. The Depositor has the trust power and
authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to carry out its terms; the
Depositor has full power and authority to sell and assign the property to be
sold and assigned to and deposited with the Trust and the Depositor has duly
authorized such sale and assignment and deposit to the Trust by all necessary
corporate action; and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement
has been duly authorized by the Depositor by all necessary trust action.
(d) No Consent Required. To the best knowledge of the Depositor, no
consent, license, approval or authorization or registration or declaration with,
any Person or with any governmental authority, bureau or agency is required in
connection with the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement and the
Basic Documents, except for such as have been obtained, effected or made.
(e) No Violation. The consummation of the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement and the fulfillment of the terms hereof do not conflict with,
result in any breach of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute (with
or without notice or lapse of time) a default under, the organizational
documents of the Depositor, or any material indenture, agreement or other
instrument to which the Depositor is a party or by which it is bound; nor result
in the creation or imposition of any Lien upon any of its properties pursuant to
the terms of any such indenture, agreement or other instrument (other than
pursuant to the Basic Documents); nor violate any law or, to the best of the
Depositor's knowledge, any order, rule or regulation applicable to the Depositor
of any court or of any Federal or state regulatory body, administrative agency
or other governmental instrumentality having jurisdiction over the Depositor or
its properties.
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(f) No Proceedings. There are no proceedings or investigations
pending or, to its knowledge threatened against it before any court, regulatory
body, administrative agency or other tribunal or governmental instrumentality
having jurisdiction over it or its properties (i) asserting the invalidity of
this Agreement or any of the Basic Documents, (ii) seeking to prevent the
issuance of the Certificates or the Notes or the consummation of any of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any of the Basic Documents, (iii)
seeking any determination or ruling that might materially and adversely affect
its performance of its obligations under, or the validity or enforceability of,
this Agreement or any of the Basic Documents, or (iv) seeking to adversely
affect the federal income tax or other federal, state or local tax attributes of
the Certificates.
SECTION 2.11. Federal Income Tax Allocations. In the event that the
Trust is treated as a partnership for Federal income tax purposes, net income
(to the extent of available net income) and net losses of the Trust for any
month as determined for Federal income tax purposes (and each item of income,
gain, loss, credit and deduction entering into the computation thereof) shall be
allocated among the Certificateholders as of the first Record Date following the
end of such month, in proportion to their percentage ownership of the
Certificate on such date. The Depositor is authorized to modify the allocations
in this paragraph if necessary or appropriate, in its sole discretion, for the
allocations to fairly reflect the economic income, gain or loss to the
Certificateholders, or as otherwise required by the Code.
SECTION 2.12. Covenants of the Depositor. The Depositor agrees and
covenants for the benefit of each Certificateholder, the Insurer and the Owner
Trustee, during the term of this Agreement, and to the fullest extent permitted
by applicable law, that:
(a) it shall not create, incur or suffer to exist any indebtedness or
engage in any business, except, in each case, as permitted by the Depositor
Trust Agreement and the Basic Documents;
(b) it shall not, for any reason, institute proceedings for the Trust
to be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, or consent to the institution of
bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings against the Trust, or file a petition
seeking or consenting to reorganization or relief under any applicable federal
or state law relating to the bankruptcy of the Trust, or consent to the
appointment of a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator (or other
similar official) of the Trust or a substantial part of the property of the
Trust or cause or permit the Trust to make any assignment for the benefit of
creditors, or admit in writing the inability of the Trust to pay its debts
generally as they become due, or declare or effect a moratorium on the debt of
the Trust or take any action in furtherance of any such action;
(c) it shall obtain from each counterparty to each Basic Document to
which it or the Trust is a party and each other agreement entered into on or
after the date hereof to which it or the Trust is a party, an agreement by each
such counterparty that prior to the occurrence of the event specified in Section
9.1(e) such counterparty shall not institute against, or join any other Person
in instituting against, it or the Trust, any bankruptcy, reorganization,
arrangement, insolvency or liquidation proceedings or other similar proceedings
under the laws of the United States or any state of the United States; and
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(d) it shall not, for any reason, withdraw or attempt to withdraw
from this Agreement, dissolve, institute proceedings for it to be adjudicated a
bankrupt or insolvent, or consent to the institution of bankruptcy or insolvency
proceedings against it, or file a petition seeking or consenting to
reorganization or relief under any applicable federal or state law relating to
bankruptcy, or consent to the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, assignee,
trustee, sequestrator (or other similar official) of it or a substantial part of
its property, or make any assignment for the benefit of creditors, or admit in
writing its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due, or declare
or effect a moratorium on its debt or take any action in furtherance of any such
action.
SECTION 2.13. Covenants of the Certificateholders. Each
Certificateholder agrees:
(a) to be bound by the terms and conditions of the Certificates and
of this Agreement, including any supplements or amendments hereto and to perform
the obligations of a Certificateholder as set forth therein or herein, in all
respects as if it were a signatory hereto. This undertaking is made for the
benefit of the Trust, the Owner Trustee, the Insurer and all other
Certificateholders present and future;
(b) to hereby appoint the Depositor as such Certificateholder's agent
and attorney-in-fact to sign any federal income tax information return filed on
behalf of the Trust, if any, and agree that, if requested by the Trust, it will
sign such federal income tax information return in its capacity as holder of an
interest in the Trust. Each Certificateholder also hereby agrees that in its tax
returns it will not take any position inconsistent with those taken in any tax
returns that may be filed by the Trust;
(c) if such Certificateholder is other than an individual or other
entity holding its Certificate through a broker who reports securities sales on
Form 1099-B, to notify the Owner Trustee of any transfer by it of a Certificate
in a taxable sale or exchange, within 30 days of the date of the transfer;
(d) until the completion of the events specified in Section 9.1(e),
not to, for any reason, institute proceedings for the Trust or the Depositor to
be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, or consent to the institution of
bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings against the Trust, or file a petition
seeking or consenting to reorganization or relief under any applicable federal
or state law relating to bankruptcy, or consent to the appointment of a
receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator (or other similar
official) of the Trust or a substantial part of its property, or cause or permit
the Trust to make any assignment for the benefit of its creditors, or admit in
writing its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due, or declare
or effect a moratorium on its debt or take any action in furtherance of any such
action; and
(e) that there shall not be more than 98 other holders of
Certificates.
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ARTICLE III
CERTIFICATES AND TRANSFER OF INTERESTS
Initial Ownership. Upon the formation of the Trust by the
contribution by the Depositor pursuant to Section 2.5 and until the sale of the
Certificates by the Depositor, the Depositor, as the sole Certificateholder,
shall be the sole beneficiary of the Trust.
SECTION 3.2. Signature on Certificates. The Certificates shall be
executed on behalf of the Trust by manual or facsimile signature of an
authorized officer of the Owner Trustee. Certificates bearing the manual or
facsimile signatures of individuals who were, at the time when such signatures
shall have been affixed, authorized to sign on behalf of the Trust, shall be
validly issued and entitled to the benefit of this Agreement, notwithstanding
that such individuals or any of them shall have ceased to be so authorized prior
to the authentication and delivery of such Certificates or did not hold such
offices at the date of authentication and delivery of such Certificates. A
transferee of a Certificate shall become a Certificateholder, and shall be
entitled to the rights and subject to the obligations of a Certificateholder
hereunder, upon due registration of such Certificate in such transferee's name
pursuant to Section 3.4.
SECTION 3.3. Authentication of Certificates. Concurrently with the
initial sale of the Receivables to the Trust pursuant to the Sale and Servicing
Agreement, the Owner Trustee shall cause the Certificates to be executed on
behalf of the Trust, authenticated and delivered to or upon the written order of
the Depositor, signed by its chairman of the board, its president or any vice
president, its treasurer or any assistant treasurer without further corporate
action by the Depositor. No Certificate shall entitle its holder to any benefit
under this Agreement, or shall be valid for any purpose, unless there shall
appear on such Certificate a certificate of authentication substantially in the
form set forth in Exhibit A, executed by the Owner Trustee, by manual signature;
such authentication shall constitute conclusive evidence that such Certificate
shall have been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder. All Certificates
shall be dated the date of their authentication.
SECTION 3.4. Registration of Transfer and Exchange of Certificates.
The Certificate Registrar shall keep or cause to be kept, at the office or
agency maintained pursuant to Section 3.8, a Certificate Register in which,
subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Owner Trustee
shall provide for the registration of Certificates and of transfers and
exchanges of Certificates as herein provided. The Owner Trustee shall be the
initial Certificate Registrar.
The Certificates have not been registered under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") or any state securities law. The
Certificate Registrar shall not register the transfer of any Certificate unless
such resale or transfer is pursuant to an effective registration statement under
the Securities Act or is to the Seller or unless it shall have received (i) a
representation letter substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto or (ii) such
other representations (or an Opinion of Counsel) satisfactory to the Owner
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Trustee to the effect that such resale or transfer is made (A) in a transaction
exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable
state securities laws, or (B) to a person who the transferor of the Certificate
reasonably believes is a qualified institutional buyer (within the meaning of
Rule 144A under the Securities Act) that is aware that such resale or other
transfer is being made in reliance upon Rule 144A. Until the earlier of (i) such
time as the Certificates shall be registered pursuant to a registration
statement filed under the Securities Act and (ii) the date two years from the
later of the date of the original authentication and delivery of the
Certificates and the date any Certificate was acquired from the Seller or any
affiliate of the Seller, the Certificates shall bear a legend as follows:
THIS CERTIFICATE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF
1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE IN
RELIANCE UPON EXEMPTIONS PROVIDED BY THE SECURITIES ACT AND SUCH STATE
SECURITIES LAWS. NO RESALE OR OTHER TRANSFER OF THIS CERTIFICATE MAY BE MADE
UNLESS SUCH RESALE OR TRANSFER (A) IS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 3.4 OF THE
OWNER TRUST AGREEMENT PERTAINING TO THE NATIONAL AUTO FINANCE 1998-1 TRUST (THE
"AGREEMENT") AND (B) IS MADE (i) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (ii) IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM THE REGISTRATION
REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS, (iii)
TO THE SELLER, OR (iv) TO A PERSON WHO THE TRANSFEROR REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A
QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 144A UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT THAT IS AWARE THAT THE RESALE OR OTHER TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN
RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, AND (C) UPON THE SATISFACTION OF CERTAIN OTHER
REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIED IN THE AGREEMENT. NEITHER THE SELLER, THE SERVICER, THE
TRUST NOR THE OWNER TRUSTEE IS OBLIGATED TO REGISTER THE CERTIFICATES UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT OR ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS.
The Certificate Registrar shall provide the Trust Collateral Agent with
a list of the names and addresses of the Certificateholders on the Closing Date
in the form which such information is provided to the Certificate Registrar by
the Depositor. Upon any transfers of Certificates, the Certificate Registrar
shall notify the Trust Collateral Agent of the name and address of the
transferee in writing, by facsimile, on the day of such transfer.
Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Certificate at the
office or agency maintained pursuant to Section 3.8, the Owner Trustee shall
execute, authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or
transferees, one or more new Certificates of a like class percentage ownership
interest in the Trust dated the date of authentication by the Owner Trustee or
any authenticating agent. At the option of a Holder, Certificates may be
exchanged for other Certificates of the same class of a like percentage
ownership interest in the Trust upon surrender of the Certificates to be
exchanged at the office or agency maintained pursuant to Section 3.8.
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Every Certificate presented or surrendered for registration of transfer
or exchange shall be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form
satisfactory to the Owner Trustee and the Certificate Registrar duly executed by
the Certificateholder or his attorney duly authorized in writing, with such
signature guaranteed by an "eligible guarantor institution" meeting the
requirements of the Certificate Registrar, which requirements include membership
or participation in the Securities Transfer Agent's Medallion Program ("STAMP")
or such other "signature guarantee program" as may be determined by the
Certificate Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in
accordance with the Exchange Act. Each Certificate surrendered for registration
of transfer or exchange shall be canceled and subsequently disposed of by the
Owner Trustee in accordance with its customary practice.
No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or
exchange of Certificates, but the Owner Trustee or the Certificate Registrar may
require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or governmental charge that
may be imposed in connection with any transfer or exchange of Certificates.
Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Section, the Owner
Trustee shall be required to make, and the Certificate Registrar shall not be
required to register, transfers and exchanges of Certificates for a period of 15
days preceding the due date for any payment with respect to the Certificate.
The Seller shall not sell, transfer, assign, convey or pledge any
Certificate at any time subsequent to the Closing Date to any Person that is an
Affiliate of the Seller, unless, prior to such sale, transfer, assignment,
conveyance or pledge, the Seller delivers to Financial Security an Opinion of
Counsel substantially similar in form and substance to the Opinion of Counsel
delivered on the Closing Date as to non-consolidation of the assets and
liabilities of (x) the Seller and NAFI or (y) the Seller and any such Person
that is an Affiliate of the Seller (other than NAFI), of which a copy shall be
delivered to each Rating Agency.
In furtherance of and not in limitation of the foregoing, each
Certificateholder, by acceptance of its Certificate, specifically acknowledges
that is has no right to or interest in any monies at any time held pursuant to
the Spread Account Agreement or prior to the release of such monies pursuant to
Section 5.7(b) of the Sale and Servicing Agreement or Section 3.03 of the Spread
Account Agreement, such monies being held in trust for the benefit of the
Noteholders and the Insurer. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that it
is ever determined that the monies held in the Spread Account constitute a
pledge of collateral, then the provisions of the Sale and Servicing Agreement
and the Spread Account Agreement shall be considered to constitute a security
agreement and the Seller and the Certificateholders hereby grant to the
Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Indenture Trustee on behalf of the
Noteholders and the Insurer a first priority perfected security interest in such
amounts, to be applied as set forth in Section 3.03 of the Spread Account
Agreement. In addition, each Certificateholder, by acceptance of its
Certificate, hereby appoints the Depositor as its agent to pledge a first
priority perfected security interest in the Spread Account, and any amounts held
therein from time to time, to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the
Indenture Trustee and the Insurer pursuant to the Spread Account Agreement and
agrees to execute and deliver such instruments of conveyance, assignment, grant,
confirmation, etc. as well as any financing statements, in each case the Insurer
shall consider reasonably necessary in order to perfect the Collateral Agent's
Security Interest in the Collateral (as such terms are defined in the Spread
Account Agreement).
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SECTION 3.5. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates. If
(a) any mutilated Certificate shall be surrendered to the Certificate Registrar,
or if the Certificate Registrar shall receive evidence to its satisfaction of
the destruction, loss or theft of any Certificate and (b) there shall be
delivered to the Certificate Registrar, the Owner Trustee and (unless an Insurer
Default shall have occurred and be continuing) the Insurer, such security or
indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless, then in the
absence of notice that such Certificate shall have been acquired by a bona fide
purchaser, the Owner Trustee on behalf of the Trust shall execute and the Owner
Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in exchange for or in lieu of any such
mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Certificate, a new Certificate of like
class, and percentage ownership interest in the Trust. In connection with the
issuance of any new Certificate under this Section, the Owner Trustee or the
Certificate Registrar may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any
tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection therewith.
Any duplicate Certificate issued pursuant to this Section shall constitute
conclusive evidence of an ownership interest in the Trust, as if originally
issued, whether or not the lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate shall be found
at any time.
SECTION 3.6. Persons Deemed Certificateholders. Every Person by
virtue of becoming a Certificateholder in accordance with this Agreement and the
rules and regulations of the Certificate Registrar shall be deemed to be bound
by the terms of this Agreement. Prior to due presentation of a Certificate for
registration of transfer, the Owner Trustee, the Certificate Registrar and the
Insurer and any agent of the Owner Trustee, the Certificate Registrar and the
Insurer, may treat the Person in whose name any Certificate shall be registered
in the Certificate Register as the owner of such Certificate for the purpose of
receiving distributions pursuant to the Sale and Servicing Agreement and for all
other purposes whatsoever, and none of the Owner Trustee, the Certificate
Registrar or the Insurer nor any agent of the Owner Trustee, the Certificate
Registrar or the Insurer shall be bound by any notice to the contrary.
SECTION 3.7. Access to List of Certificateholders' Names and
Addresses. The Owner Trustee shall furnish or cause to be furnished to the
Servicer, the Depositor or (unless an Insurer Default shall have occurred and be
continuing) the Insurer, within 15 days after receipt by the Owner Trustee of a
request therefor from such Person in writing, a list, of the names and addresses
of the Certificateholders as of the most recent Record Date. If three or more
Holders of Certificates or one or more Holders of Certificates evidencing not
less than 25% of the percentage ownership interest in the Trust apply in writing
to the Owner Trustee, and such application states that the applicants desire to
communicate with other Certificateholders with respect to their rights under
this Agreement or under the Certificates and such application is accompanied by
a copy of the communication that such applicants propose to transmit, then the
Owner Trustee shall, within five Business Days after the receipt of such
application, afford such applicants access during normal business hours to the
current list of Certificateholders. Each Holder, by receiving and holding a
Certificate, shall be deemed to have agreed not to hold any of the Depositor,
the Servicer, the Owner Trustee or the Insurer or any agent thereof accountable
by reason of the disclosure of its name and address, regardless of the source
from which such information was derived.
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SECTION 3.8. Maintenance of Office or Agency. The Owner Trustee shall
maintain in Wilmington, Delaware, an office or offices or agency or agencies
where Certificates may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange
and where notices and demands to or upon the Owner Trustee in respect of the
Certificates and the Basic Documents may be served. The Owner Trustee initially
designates its Corporate Trust Office for such purposes. The Owner Trustee shall
give prompt written notice to the Depositor, the Certificateholders and the
Insurer of any change in the location of the Certificate Register or any such
office or agency.
SECTION 3.9. ERISA Restrictions. The Certificates may not be acquired
by or for the account of (i) an employee benefit plan (as defined in Section
3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended
("ERISA")) that is subject to the provisions of Title I of ERISA, (ii) a plan
described in Section 4975(e)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1985, as
amended, or (iii) any entity whose underlying assets include plan assets by
reason of a plan's investment in the entity (each, a "Benefit Plan"). By
accepting and holding its beneficial ownership interest in its Certificate, the
Holder thereof shall be deemed to have represented and warranted that it is not
a Benefit Plan.
SECTION 3.10. Securities Matters. Notwithstanding anything contained
herein to the contrary, the Owner Trustee shall not be responsible for
ascertaining whether any transfer complies with the registration provisions or
exemptions from the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Securities Act of
1934, as amended, applicable state securities law or the Investment Company Act;
provided, however, that if a certificate is specifically required to be
delivered to the Owner Trustee by a purchaser or transferee of a Certificate,
the Owner Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether
it conforms to the requirements of this Trust Agreement and shall promptly
notify the party delivering the same if such certificate does not so conform.
ARTICLE IV
VOTING RIGHTS AND OTHER ACTIONS
Prior Notice to Holders with Respect to Certain Matters. With respect
to the following matters, the Owner Trustee shall not take action unless at
least 10 days before the taking of such action, the Owner Trustee shall have
notified the Certificateholders in writing of the proposed action and the
Certificateholders shall not have notified the Owner Trustee in writing prior to
the 10th day after such notice is given that such Certificateholders have
withheld consent or provided alternative direction:
(a) the election by the Trust to file an amendment to the Certificate
of Trust (unless such amendment is required to be filed under the Business Trust
Statute or unless such amendment would not materially and adversely affect the
interests of the Holders);
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(b) the amendment of the Indenture by a supplemental indenture in
circumstances where the consent of any Noteholder is required;
(c) the amendment of the Indenture by a supplemental indenture in
circumstances where the consent of any Noteholder is not required and such
amendment materially adversely affects the interest of the Certificateholders;
or
(d) except pursuant to Section 13.1(b) of the Sale and Servicing
Agreement, the amendment, change or modification of the Sale and Servicing
Agreement, except to cure any ambiguity or defect or to amend or supplement any
provision in a manner that would not materially adversely affect the interests
of the Certificateholders.
The Owner Trustee shall notify the Certificateholders in writing of any
appointment of a successor Note Registrar, Trust Collateral Agent or Certificate
Registrar within five Business Days thereof.
SECTION 4.2. Action by Certificateholders with Respect to Certain
Matters. The Owner Trustee shall not have the power, except upon the direction
of the Insurer or, in the event that an Insurer Default shall have occurred and
be continuing, the Security Majority in accordance with the Basic Documents, to
(a) remove the Servicer under the Sale and Servicing Agreement or (b) except as
expressly provided in the Basic Documents, sell the Receivables after the
termination of the Indenture. The Owner Trustee shall take the actions referred
to in the preceding sentence only upon written instructions signed by the
Insurer or the Securityholders, as the case may be, and the furnishing of
indemnification satisfactory to the Owner Trustee by the Certificateholders.
SECTION 4.3. Action by Certificateholders with Respect to Bankruptcy.
Until the Notes have been paid in full, the Owner Trustee shall not have the
power to, and shall not, commence any proceeding or other actions contemplated
by Section 2.12(d) relating to the Trust without the prior written consent of
the Insurer (unless an Insurer Default shall have occurred and be continuing) or
the Security Majority upon an Insurer Default. After the Notes have been paid in
full, all amounts due to the Insurer under the Insurance Agreement have been
paid in full, the Term of the Policy has expired and the Trust Collateral Agent
has surrendered the Policy to the Insurer, the Owner Trustee shall not have the
power to, and shall not, commence any proceeding or other actions contemplated
by Section 2.12(d) relating to the Trust without the prior written consent of
all of the Certificateholders and the delivery to the Owner Trustee by each such
Certificateholder of written certification that such Certificateholder
reasonably believes that the Trust is insolvent.
SECTION 4.4. Restrictions on Certificateholders' Power. (a) The
Certificateholders shall not direct the Owner Trustee to take or refrain from
taking any action if such action or inaction would be contrary to any obligation
of the Trust or the Owner Trustee under this Agreement or any of the Basic
Documents or would be contrary to Section 2.3 or otherwise contrary to law nor
shall the Owner Trustee be obligated to follow any such direction, if given.
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No Certificateholder (other than the Depositor as
sole Certificateholder) shall have any right by virtue or by availing
itself of any provisions of this Agreement to institute any suit,
action, or proceeding in equity or at law upon or under or with respect
to this Agreement or any Basic Document, unless the Certificateholders
are the Instructing Party pursuant to Section 6.3 and unless a
Certificateholder previously shall have given to the Owner Trustee a
written notice of default and of the continuance thereof, as provided
in this Agreement, and also unless Certificateholders evidencing not
less than 25% of the percentage ownership interest in the Trust shall
have made written request upon the Owner Trustee to institute such
action, suit or proceeding in its own name as Owner Trustee under this
Agreement and shall have offered to the Owner Trustee such reasonable
indemnity as it may require against the costs, expenses and liabilities
to be incurred therein or thereby, and the Owner Trustee, for 30 days
after its receipt of such notice, request, and offer of indemnity,
shall have neglected or refused to institute any such action, suit, or
proceeding, and during such 30-day period no request or waiver
inconsistent with such written request has been given to the Owner
Trustee pursuant to and in compliance with this Section or Section 6.3;
it being understood and intended, and being expressly covenanted by
each Certificateholder with every other Certificateholder and the Owner
Trustee, that no one or more Holders of Certificates shall have any
right in any manner whatever by virtue or by availing itself or
themselves of any provisions of this Agreement to affect, disturb, or
prejudice the rights of the Holders of any other of the Certificates,
or to obtain or seek to obtain priority over or preference to any other
such Holder, or to enforce any right under this Agreement, except in
the manner provided in this Agreement and for the equal, ratable, and
common benefit of all Certificateholders. For the protection and
enforcement of the provisions of this Section 4.4, each and every
Certificateholder and the Owner Trustee shall be entitled to such
relief as can be given either at law or in equity.
SECTION 4.5. Majority Control. No Certificateholder shall have any
right to vote or in any manner otherwise control the operation and management of
the Trust except as expressly provided in this Agreement. Except as expressly
provided herein, any action that may be taken by the Certificateholders under
this Agreement may be taken by the Holders of Certificates evidencing not less
than a majority of the percentage ownership interest in the Trust. Except as
expressly provided herein, any written notice of the Certificateholders
delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall be effective if signed by
Certificateholders evidencing not less than a majority of the percentage
ownership interest in the Trust at the time of the delivery of such notice.
SECTION 4.6. Rights of Insurer. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary in the Basic Documents, without the prior written consent of the
Insurer or if an Insurer Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the
Security Majority, the Owner Trustee shall not (i) remove the Servicer, the
Backup Servicer, or any Sub-Servicer, (ii) initiate any claim, suit or
proceeding by the Trust or compromise any claim, suit or proceeding brought by
or against the Trust, other than with respect to the enforcement of any
Receivable or any rights of the Trust thereunder, (iii) authorize the merger or
consolidation of the Trust with or into any other business trust or other entity
(other than in accordance with Section 3.10 of the Indenture), (iv) amend the
Certificate of Trust, or (v) amend this Agreement in accordance with Section
11.1 of this Agreement.
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ARTICLE V
CERTAIN DUTIES
Accounting and Records to the Noteholders, Certificateholders, the
Internal Revenue Service and Others. Subject to Sections 12.1(b)(iii) and
12.1(c) of the Sale and Servicing Agreement, the Depositor shall (a) maintain
(or cause to be maintained) the books of the Trust on a calendar year basis on
the accrual method of accounting, including, without limitation, the allocations
of net income under Section 2.11, (b) deliver (or cause to be delivered) to each
Certificateholder, as may be required by the Code and applicable Treasury
Regulations, such information as may be required (including Schedule K-1, if
applicable) to enable each Certificateholder to prepare its Federal and state
income tax returns, (c) file or cause to be filed, if necessary, such tax
returns relating to the Trust (including a partnership information return, Form
1065), and direct the Owner Trustee or the Servicer, as the case may be, to make
such elections as may from time to time be required or appropriate under any
applicable state or Federal statute or rule or regulation thereunder so as to
maintain the Trust's characterization as a branch, or if applicable, as a
partnership, for Federal income tax purposes, and (d) collect or cause to be
collected any withholding tax as described in and in accordance with Section
5.9(c) of the Sale and Serving Agreement with respect to income or distributions
to Certificateholders and the appropriate forms relating thereto. The Owner
Trustee or the Servicer, as the case may be, shall make all elections pursuant
to this Section as directed in writing by the Depositor. The Owner Trustee shall
sign all tax information returns, if any, filed pursuant to this Section 5.1 and
any other returns as may be required by law, and in doing so shall rely entirely
upon, and shall have no liability for information provided by, or calculations
provided by, the Depositor or the Servicer. The Owner Trustee shall elect under
Section 1278 of the Code to include in income currently any market discount that
accrues with respect to the Receivables. The Owner Trustee shall not make the
election provided under Section 754 of the Code.
SECTION 5.2. Signature on Returns; Tax Matters Partner. (a)
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 5.1 and in the event that the Trust is
characterized as a partnership, the Owner Trustee shall sign on behalf of the
Trust the tax returns of the Trust, unless applicable law requires a
Certificateholder to sign such documents, in which case such documents shall be
signed by the Depositor.
In the event that the Trust is characterized as a
partnership, the Depositor shall be the "tax matters partner" of the
Trust pursuant to the Code.
SECTION 5.3. Underwriting Agreement. The Servicer is hereby
authorized to execute and deliver the Underwriting Agreement with respect to the
Notes.
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ARTICLE VI
AUTHORITY AND DUTIES OF OWNER TRUSTEE
General Authority. The Owner Trustee is authorized and directed to
execute and deliver the Basic Documents to which the Trust is named as a party
and each certificate or other document attached as an exhibit to or contemplated
by the Basic Documents to which the Trust is named as a party and any amendment
thereto, in each case, in such form as the Depositor shall approve as evidenced
conclusively by the Owner Trustee's execution thereof, and on behalf of the
Trust, to direct the Indenture Trustee to authenticate and deliver the Notes in
the aggregate principal amount of $85,200,000. In addition to the foregoing, the
Owner Trustee is authorized, but shall not be obligated, to take all actions
required of the Trust pursuant to the Basic Documents. The Owner Trustee is
further authorized from time to time to take such action as the Instructing
Party recommends with respect to the Basic Documents so long as such activities
are consistent with the terms of the Basic Documents.
SECTION 6.2. General Duties. It shall be the duty of the Owner
Trustee to discharge (or cause to be discharged) all of its responsibilities
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and to administer the Trust in the
interest of the Holders, subject to the Basic Documents and in accordance with
the provisions of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Owner
Trustee shall be deemed to have discharged its duties and responsibilities
hereunder and under the Basic Documents to the extent the Servicer has agreed in
the Sale and Servicing Agreement to perform any act or to discharge any duty of
the Trust or the Owner Trustee hereunder or under any Basic Document, and the
Owner Trustee shall not be liable for the default or failure of the Servicer to
carry out its obligations under the Sale and Servicing Agreement.
SECTION 6.3. Action upon Instruction. (a) Subject to Article IV and
the terms of the Spread Account Agreement, the Insurer (so long as an Insurer
Default shall not have occurred and be continuing) or the Certificateholders (if
an Insurer Default shall have occurred and be continuing) (the "Instructing
Party") shall have the exclusive right to direct the actions of the Owner
Trustee in the management of the Trust, so long as such instructions are not
inconsistent with the express terms set forth herein or in any Basic Document.
The Instructing Party shall not instruct the Owner Trustee in a manner
inconsistent with this Agreement or the Basic Documents.
(b) The Owner Trustee shall not be required to take any action
hereunder or under any Basic Document if the Owner Trustee shall have reasonably
determined, or shall have been advised by counsel, that such action is likely to
result in liability on the part of the Owner Trustee or is contrary to the terms
hereof or of any Basic Document or is otherwise contrary to law.
(c) Whenever the Owner Trustee is unable to decide between
alternative courses of action permitted or required by the terms of this
Agreement or any Basic Document, the Owner Trustee shall promptly give notice
(in such form as shall be appropriate under the circumstances) to the
Instructing Party requesting instruction as to the course of action to be
adopted, and to the extent the Owner Trustee acts in good faith in accordance
with any written instruction of the Instructing Party received, the Owner
Trustee shall not be liable on account of such action to any Person. If the
18
Owner Trustee shall not have received appropriate instruction within ten days of
such notice (or within such shorter period of time as reasonably may be
specified in such notice or may be necessary under the circumstances) it may,
but shall be under no duty to, take or refrain from taking such action, not
inconsistent with this Agreement or the Basic Documents, as it shall deem to be
in the best interests of the Certificateholders, and shall have no liability to
any Person for such action or inaction.
(d) In the event that the Owner Trustee is unsure as to the
application of any provision of this Agreement or any Basic Document or any such
provision is ambiguous as to its application, or is, or appears to be, in
conflict with any other applicable provision, or in the event that this
Agreement permits any determination by the Owner Trustee or is silent or is
incomplete as to the course of action that the Owner Trustee is required to take
with respect to a particular set of facts, the Owner Trustee may give notice (in
such form as shall be appropriate under the circumstances) to the Instructing
Party requesting instruction and, to the extent that the Owner Trustee acts or
refrains from acting in good faith in accordance with any such instruction
received, the Owner Trustee shall not be liable, on account of such action or
inaction, to any Person. If the Owner Trustee shall not have received
appropriate instruction within 10 days of such notice (or within such shorter
period of time as reasonably may be specified in such notice or may be necessary
under the circumstances) it may, but shall be under no duty to, take or refrain
from taking such action, not inconsistent with this Agreement or the Basic
Documents, as it shall deem to be in the best interests of the
Certificateholders, and shall have no liability to any Person for such action or
inaction.
SECTION 6.4. No Duties Except as Specified in this Agreement or in
Instructions. The Owner Trustee shall not have any duty or obligation to manage,
make any payment with respect to, register, record, sell, dispose of, or
otherwise deal with the Owner Trust Estate, or to otherwise take or refrain from
taking any action under, or in connection with, any document contemplated hereby
to which the Owner Trustee is a party, except as expressly provided by the terms
of this Agreement or in any document or written instruction received by the
Owner Trustee pursuant to Section 6.3; and no implied duties or obligations
shall be read into this Agreement or any Basic Document against the Owner
Trustee. The Owner Trustee shall have no responsibility for filing any financing
or continuation statement in any public office at any time or to otherwise
perfect or maintain the perfection of any security interest or lien granted to
it hereunder or to prepare or file any Commission filing for the Trust or to
record this Agreement or any Basic Document. The Owner Trustee nevertheless
agrees that it will, at its own cost and expense, promptly take all action as
may be necessary to discharge any Liens on any part of the Owner Trust Estate
that result from actions by, or claims against, the Owner Trustee (solely in its
individual capacity) and that are not related to the ownership or the
administration of the Owner Trust Estate.
SECTION 6.5. No Action Except under Specified Documents or
Instructions. The Owner Trustee shall not manage, control, use, sell, dispose of
or otherwise deal with any part of the Owner Trust Estate except (i) in
accordance with the powers granted to and the authority conferred upon the Owner
Trustee pursuant to this Agreement, (ii) in accordance with the Basic Documents,
and (iii) in accordance with any document or instruction delivered to the Owner
Trustee pursuant to Section 6.3.
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SECTION 6.6. Restrictions. The Owner Trustee shall not take any
action (a) that is inconsistent with the purposes of the Trust set forth in
Section 2.3, or (b) that, to the actual knowledge of the Owner Trustee, would
result in the Trust's becoming taxable as a corporation or a publicly traded
partnership for Federal income tax purposes. The Certificateholders shall not
direct the Owner Trustee to take action that would violate the provisions of
this Section.
ARTICLE VII
CONCERNING THE OWNER TRUSTEE
Acceptance of Trusts and Duties. The Owner Trustee accepts the trusts
hereby created and agrees to perform its duties hereunder with respect to such
trusts but only upon the terms of this Agreement. The Owner Trustee also agrees
to disburse all monies actually received by it constituting part of the Owner
Trust Estate upon the terms of the Basic Documents and this Agreement. The Owner
Trustee shall not be answerable or accountable hereunder or under any Basic
Document under any circumstances, except (i) for its own willful misconduct, bad
faith or negligence, (ii) in the case of the inaccuracy of any representation or
warranty contained in Section 7.3 expressly made by the Owner Trustee in its
individual capacity, (iii) for liabilities arising from the failure of the Owner
Trustee to perform obligations expressly undertaken by it in the last sentence
of Section 6.4 hereof, (iv) for any investments issued by the Owner Trustee or
any branch or affiliate thereof in its commercial capacity or (v) for taxes,
fees or other charges on, based on or measured by, any fees, commissions or
compensation received by the Owner Trustee. In particular, but not by way of
limitation (and subject to the exceptions set forth in the preceding sentence):
(a) the Owner Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment
made by a Responsible Officer of the Owner Trustee;
(b) the Owner Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action
taken or omitted to be taken by it in accordance with the instructions of the
Instructing Party, the Depositor, the Servicer or any Certificateholder;
(c) no provision of this Agreement or any Basic Document shall
require the Owner Trustee to expend or risk funds or otherwise incur any
financial liability in the performance of any of its rights or powers hereunder
or under any Basic Document if the Owner Trustee shall have reasonable grounds
for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such
risk or liability is not reasonably assured or provided to it;
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(d) under no circumstances shall the Owner Trustee be liable for
indebtedness evidenced by or arising under any of the Basic Documents, including
the principal of and interest on the Notes;
(e) the Owner Trustee shall not be responsible for or in respect of
the validity or sufficiency of this Agreement or for the due execution hereof by
the Depositor or for the form, character, genuineness, sufficiency, value or
validity of any of the Owner Trust Estate or for or in respect of the validity
or sufficiency of the Basic Documents, other than the certificate of
authentication on the Certificates, and the Owner Trustee shall in no event
assume or incur any liability, duty or obligation to the Depositor, the Insurer,
Trustee, Trust Collateral Agent, the Collateral Agent, any Noteholder or to any
Certificateholder, other than as expressly provided for herein and in the Basic
Documents;
(f) the Owner Trustee shall not be liable for the default or
misconduct of the Depositor, the Insurer, the Trustee, the Trust Collateral
Agent or the Servicer under any of the Basic Documents or otherwise and the
Owner Trustee shall have no obligation or liability to perform the obligations
under this Agreement or the Basic Documents that are required to be performed by
the Depositor under this Agreement, by the Trustee under the Indenture or the
Trust Collateral Agent or the Servicer under the Sale and Servicing Agreement;
and
(g) the Owner Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of
the rights or powers vested in it by this Agreement, or to institute, conduct or
defend any litigation under this Agreement or otherwise or in relation to this
Agreement or any Basic Document, at the request, order or direction of the
Instructing Party or any of the Certificateholders, unless such Instructing
Party or Certificateholders have offered to the Owner Trustee security or
indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities that
may be incurred by the Owner Trustee therein or thereby. The right of the Owner
Trustee to perform any discretionary act enumerated in this Agreement or in any
Basic Document shall not be construed as a duty, and the Owner Trustee shall not
be answerable for other than its negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct in
the performance of any such act.
SECTION 7.2. Furnishing of Documents. The Owner Trustee shall furnish
to the Certificateholders promptly upon receipt of a written request therefor,
duplicates or copies of all reports, notices, requests, demands, certificates,
financial statements and any other instruments furnished to the Owner Trustee
under the Basic Documents.
SECTION 7.3. Representations and Warranties. The Owner Trustee hereby
represents and warrants, in its individual capacity, to the Depositor, the
Holders and the Insurer (which shall have relied on such representations and
warranties in issuing the Policies), that:
(a) It is a Delaware banking corporation, duly organized and validly
existing in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware. It has all
requisite corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its
obligations under this Agreement.
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(b) It has taken all corporate action necessary to authorize the
execution and delivery by it of this Agreement, and this Agreement will be
executed and delivered by one of its officers who is duly authorized to execute
and deliver this Agreement on its behalf.
(c) Neither the execution nor the delivery by it of this Agreement,
nor the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby nor
compliance by it with any of the terms or provisions hereof will contravene any
federal or Delaware state law, governmental rule or regulation governing the
banking or trust powers of the Owner Trustee or any judgment or order binding on
it, or constitute any default under its charter documents or by-laws or any
indenture, mortgage, contract, agreement or instrument to which it is a party or
by which any of its properties may be bound.
SECTION 7.4. Reliance; Advice of Counsel. (a) The Owner Trustee shall
incur no liability to anyone in acting upon any signature, instrument, notice,
resolution, request, consent, order, certificate, report, opinion, bond or other
document or paper believed by it to be genuine and believed by it to be signed
by the proper party or parties. The Owner Trustee may accept a certified copy of
a resolution of the board of directors or other governing body of any corporate
party as conclusive evidence that such resolution has been duly adopted by such
body and that the same is in full force and effect. As to any fact or matter the
method of the determination of which is not specifically prescribed herein, the
Owner Trustee may for all purposes hereof rely on a certificate, signed by the
president or any vice president or by the treasurer, secretary or other
authorized officers of the relevant party, as to such fact or matter, and such
certificate shall constitute full protection to the Owner Trustee for any action
taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in reliance thereon.
In the exercise or administration of the trusts
hereunder and in the performance of its duties and obligations under
this Agreement or the Basic Documents, the Owner Trustee (i) may act
directly or through its agents or attorneys pursuant to agreements
entered into with any of them, and the Owner Trustee shall not be
liable for the conduct or misconduct of such agents or attorneys if
such agents or attorneys shall have been selected by the Owner Trustee
with reasonable care, and (ii) may consult with counsel, accountants
and other skilled persons to be selected with reasonable care and
employed by it. The Owner Trustee shall not be liable for anything
done, suffered or omitted in good faith by it in accordance with the
written opinion or advice of any such counsel, accountants or other
such persons and according to such opinion not contrary to this
Agreement or any Basic Document.
SECTION 7.5. Not Acting in Individual Capacity. Except as provided in
this Article VII, in accepting the trusts hereby created, Wilmington Trust
Company acts solely as Owner Trustee hereunder and not in its individual
capacity and all Persons having any claim against the Owner Trustee by reason of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Basic Document shall look
only to the Owner Trust Estate for payment or satisfaction thereof.
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SECTION 7.6. Owner Trustee Not Liable for Certificates or
Receivables. The recitals contained herein and in the Certificates (other than
the signature and countersignature of the Owner Trustee on the Certificates)
shall be taken as the statements of the Depositor and the Owner Trustee assumes
no responsibility for the correctness thereof. The Owner Trustee makes no
representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Agreement, of any
Basic Document or of the Certificates (other than the signature and
countersignature of the Owner Trustee on the Certificates) or the Notes, or of
any Receivable or related documents. The Owner Trustee shall at no time have any
responsibility or liability for or with respect to the legality, validity and
enforceability of any Receivable, or the perfection and priority of any security
interest created by any Receivable in any Financed Vehicle or the maintenance of
any such perfection and priority, or for or with respect to the sufficiency of
the Owner Trust Estate or its ability to generate the payments to be distributed
to Certificateholders under this Agreement or the Noteholders under the
Indenture, including, without limitation: the existence, condition and ownership
of any Financed Vehicle; the existence and enforceability of any insurance
thereon; the existence and contents of any Receivable on any computer or other
record thereof; the validity of the assignment of any Receivable to the Trust or
of any intervening assignment; the completeness of any Receivable; the
performance or enforcement of any Receivable; the compliance by the Depositor,
the Servicer or any other Person with any warranty or representation made under
any Basic Document or in any related document or the accuracy of any such
warranty or representation or any action of the Trustee or the Servicer or any
subservicer taken in the name of the Owner Trustee.
SECTION 7.7. Owner Trustee May Own Certificates and Notes. The Owner
Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledge
of Certificates or Notes and may deal with the Depositor, the Trustee and the
Servicer in banking transactions with the same rights as it would have if it
were not Owner Trustee.
SECTION 7.8. Payments from Owner Trust Estate. All payments to be
made by the Owner Trustee under this Agreement or any of the Basic Documents to
which the Trust or the Owner Trustee is a party shall be made only from the
income and proceeds of the Owner Trust Estate and only to the extent that the
Owner Trust shall have received income or proceeds from the Owner Trust Estate
to make such payments in accordance with the terms hereof. Wilmington Trust
Company, or any successor thereto, in its individual capacity, shall not be
liable for any amounts payable under this Agreement or any of the Basic
Documents to which the Trust or the Owner Trustee is a party.
SECTION 7.9. Doing Business in Other Jurisdictions. Notwithstanding
anything contained to the contrary, neither Wilmington Trust Company or any
successor thereto, nor the Owner Trustee shall be required to take any action in
any jurisdiction other than in the State of Delaware if the taking of such
action will, even after the appointment of a co-trustee or separate trustee in
accordance with Section 10.5 hereof, (i) require the consent or approval or
authorization or order of or the giving of notice to, or the registration with
or the taking of any other action in respect of, any state or other governmental
23
authority or agency of any jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware; (ii)
result in any fee, tax or other governmental charge under the laws of the State
of Delaware becoming payable by Wilmington Trust Company (or any successor
thereto); or (iii) subject Wilmington Trust Company (or any successor thereto)
to personal jurisdiction in any jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware
for causes of action arising from acts unrelated to the consummation of the
transactions by Wilmington Trust Company (or any successor thereto) or the Owner
Trustee, as the case may be, contemplated hereby.
ARTICLE VIII
COMPENSATION OF OWNER TRUSTEE
Owner Trustee's Fees and Expenses. The Owner Trustee shall receive as
compensation for its services hereunder such fees as have been separately agreed
upon before the date hereof between the Depositor and the Owner Trustee, and the
Owner Trustee shall be entitled to be reimbursed by the Depositor for its other
reasonable expenses hereunder, including the reasonable compensation, expenses
and disbursements of such agents, representatives, experts and counsel as the
Owner Trustee may employ in connection with the exercise and performance of its
rights and its duties hereunder and under the Basic Documents.
SECTION 8.2. Indemnification. The Depositor shall be liable as
primary obligor for, and shall indemnify the Owner Trustee (in its individual
and trust capacities) and its officers, directors, successors, assigns, agents
and servants (collectively, the "Indemnified Parties") from and against, any and
all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, taxes, claims, actions and suits,
and any and all reasonable costs, expenses and disbursements (including
reasonable legal fees and expenses) of any kind and nature whatsoever
(collectively, "Expenses") which may (in its trust or individual capacities) at
any time be imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against the Owner Trustee or
any Indemnified Party in any way relating to or arising out of this Agreement,
the Basic Documents, the Owner Trust Estate, the administration of the Owner
Trust Estate or the action or inaction of the Owner Trustee hereunder, except
only that the Depositor shall not be liable for or required to indemnify the
Owner Trustee from and against Expenses arising or resulting from any of the
matters described in the third sentence of Section 7.1. The indemnities
contained in this Section and the rights under Section 8.1 shall survive the
resignation or termination of the Owner Trustee or the termination of this
Agreement. In any event of any claim, action or proceeding for which indemnity
will be sought pursuant to this Section, the Owner Trustee's choice of legal
counsel shall be subject to the approval of the Depositor which approval shall
not be unreasonably withheld.
SECTION 8.3. Payments to the Owner Trustee. Any amounts paid to the
Owner Trustee pursuant to this Article VIII shall be deemed not to be a part of
the Owner Trust Estate immediately after such payment.
SECTION 8.4. Non-recourse Obligations. Notwithstanding anything in
this Agreement or any Basic Document, the Owner Trustee agrees in its individual
capacity and in its capacity as Owner Trustee for the Trust that all obligations
of the Trust to the Owner Trustee individually or as Owner Trustee for the Trust
shall be recourse to the Owner Trust Estate only and specifically shall not be
recourse to the assets of any Certificateholder.
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ARTICLE IX
TERMINATION OF TRUST AGREEMENT
Termination of Trust Agreement. (a) This Agreement and the Trust
shall terminate and be of no further force or effect upon the latest of (i) the
maturity or other liquidation of the last Receivable (including the purchase by
the Servicer at its option of the corpus of the Trust as described in Section
11.1 of the Sale and Servicing Agreement) and the subsequent distribution of
amounts in respect of such Receivables as provided in the Basic Documents or
(ii) the payment to Certificateholders of all amounts required to be paid to
them pursuant to this Agreement and the payment to the Insurer of all amounts
payable or reimbursable to it pursuant to the Sale and Servicing Agreement;
provided, however, that the rights to indemnification under Section 8.2 and the
rights under Section 8.1 shall survive the termination of the Trust. The
Servicer shall promptly notify the Owner Trustee and the Insurer of any
prospective termination pursuant to this Section 9.1. The bankruptcy,
liquidation, dissolution, death or incapacity of any Certificateholder shall not
(x) operate to terminate this Agreement or the Trust, nor (y) entitle such
Certificateholder's legal representatives or heirs to claim an accounting or to
take any action or proceeding in any court for a partition or winding up of all
or any part of the Trust or Owner Trust Estate nor (z) otherwise affect the
rights, obligations and liabilities of the parties hereto.
(b) Except as provided in clause (a), neither the Depositor nor any
other Certificateholder shall be entitled to revoke or terminate the Trust.
(c) Notice of any termination of the Trust, specifying the
Distribution Date upon which the Certificateholders shall surrender their
Certificates to the Trust Collateral Agent for payment of the final distribution
and cancellation, shall be given by the Owner Trustee by letter to
Certificateholders mailed within five Business Days of receipt of notice of such
termination from the Servicer given pursuant to Section 11.1(c) of the Sale and
Servicing Agreement, stating (i) the Distribution Date upon or with respect to
which final payment of the Certificates shall be made upon presentation and
surrender of the Certificates at the office of the Trust Collateral Agent
therein designated, (ii) the amount of any such final payment, (iii) that the
Record Date otherwise applicable to such Distribution Date is not applicable,
payments being made only upon presentation and surrender of the Certificates at
the office of the Trust Collateral Agent therein specified, and (iv) interest
will cease to accrue on the Certificates. The Owner Trustee shall give such
notice to the Certificate Registrar (if other than the Owner Trustee) and the
Trust Collateral Agent at the time such notice is given to Certificateholders.
Upon presentation and surrender of the Certificates, the Trust Collateral Agent
shall cause to be distributed to Certificateholders amounts distributable on
such Distribution Date pursuant to Section 5.7 of the Sale and Servicing
Agreement.
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In the event that all of the Certificateholders shall not surrender
their Certificates for cancellation within six months after the date specified
in the above mentioned written notice, the Owner Trustee shall give a second
written notice to the remaining Certificateholders to surrender their
Certificates for cancellation and receive the final distribution with respect
thereto. If within one year after the second notice all the Certificates shall
not have been surrendered for cancellation, the Owner Trustee may take
appropriate steps, or may appoint an agent to take appropriate steps, to contact
the remaining Certificateholders concerning surrender of their Certificates, and
the cost thereof shall be paid out of the funds and other assets that shall
remain subject to this Agreement. Any funds remaining in the Trust after
exhaustion of such remedies shall be distributed, subject to applicable escheat
laws, by the Owner Trustee to the Depositor and Holders shall look solely to the
Depositor for payment.
(d) Any funds remaining in the Trust after funds for final
distribution have been distributed or set aside for distribution shall be
distributed by the Owner Trustee to the Depositor.
(e) Upon the winding up of the Trust and its termination, the Owner
Trustee shall cause the Certificate of Trust to be canceled by filing a
certificate of cancellation with the Secretary of State in accordance with the
provisions of Section 3810 of the Business Trust Statute.
(f) Written notice of the termination of this Agreement and the Trust
shall be given to each Rating Agency by the Owner Trustee.
ARTICLE X
SUCCESSOR OWNER TRUSTEES AND ADDITIONAL OWNER TRUSTEES
Eligibility Requirements for Owner Trustee. The Owner Trustee shall
at all times be a corporation (i) satisfying the provisions of Section 3807(a)
of the Business Trust Statute; (ii) authorized to exercise corporate trust
powers; (iii) having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 and
subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State authorities; (iv)
having (or having a parent which has) a rating of at least Baa3 by Xxxxx'x and
A-1 by Standard & Poors; and (v) acceptable to the Insurer in its sole
discretion, so long as an Insurer Default shall not have occurred and be
continuing. If such corporation shall publish reports of condition at least
annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of the aforesaid supervising or
examining authority, then for the purpose of this Section, the combined capital
and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and
surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. In
case at any time the Owner Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with
the provisions of this Section, the Owner Trustee shall resign immediately in
the manner and with the effect specified in Section 10.2.
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SECTION 10.2. Resignation or Removal of Owner Trustee. The Owner
Trustee may at any time resign and be discharged from the trusts hereby created
by giving written notice thereof to the Depositor (or in the event that the
Depositor is not the sole Certificateholder, the Holders of Certificates
evidencing not less than a majority of the percentage ownership interest in the
Trust), the Insurer and the Servicer. Upon receiving such notice of resignation,
the Depositor shall promptly appoint a successor Owner Trustee, meeting the
qualifications set forth in Section 10.1 herein, by written instrument, in
duplicate, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the resigning
Owner Trustee and one copy to the successor Owner Trustee, provided that the
Depositor shall have received written confirmation from each of the Rating
Agencies that the proposed appointment will not result in an increased capital
charge to the Insurer by either of the Rating Agencies. If no successor Owner
Trustee shall have been so appointed and have accepted appointment within 30
days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the resigning Owner Trustee
or the Insurer may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the
appointment of a successor Owner Trustee.
If at any time the Owner Trustee shall cease to be eligible in
accordance with the provisions of Section 10.1 and shall fail to resign after
written request therefor by the Depositor, or if at any time the Owner Trustee
shall be legally unable to act, or shall be adjudged bankrupt or insolvent, or a
receiver of the Owner Trustee or of its property shall be appointed, or any
public officer shall take charge or control of the Owner Trustee or of its
property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or
liquidation, then the Depositor with the consent of the Insurer (so long as an
Insurer Default shall not have occurred and be continuing) may remove the Owner
Trustee. If the Depositor shall remove the Owner Trustee under the authority of
the immediately preceding sentence, the Depositor shall promptly appoint a
successor Owner Trustee, meeting the qualifications set forth in Section 10.1
herein, by written instrument, in duplicate, one copy of which instrument shall
be delivered to the outgoing Owner Trustee so removed, one copy to the Insurer
and one copy to the successor Owner Trustee and payment of all fees owed to the
outgoing Owner Trustee.
Any resignation or removal of the Owner Trustee and appointment of a
successor Owner Trustee pursuant to any of the provisions of this Section shall
not become effective until acceptance of appointment by the successor Owner
Trustee pursuant to Section 10.3 and payment of all fees and expenses owed to
the outgoing Owner Trustee. The Depositor shall provide notice of such
resignation or removal of the Owner Trustee to each of the Rating Agencies.
SECTION 10.3. Successor Owner Trustee. Any successor Owner Trustee
appointed pursuant to Section 10.2 shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the
Depositor, the Servicer, the Insurer and to its predecessor Owner Trustee an
instrument accepting such appointment under this Agreement, and thereupon the
resignation or removal of the predecessor Owner Trustee shall become effective
and such successor Owner Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance,
shall become fully vested with all the rights, powers, duties and obligations of
its predecessor under this Agreement, with like effect as if originally named as
Owner Trustee. The predecessor Owner Trustee shall upon payment of its fees and
expenses deliver to the successor Owner Trustee all documents and statements and
monies held by it under this Agreement; and the Depositor and the predecessor
Owner Trustee shall execute and deliver such instruments and do such other
things as may reasonably be required for fully and certainly vesting and
confirming in the successor Owner Trustee all such rights, powers, duties and
obligations.
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No successor Owner Trustee shall accept appointment as provided in this
Section unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Owner Trustee shall
be eligible pursuant to Section 10.1.
Upon acceptance of appointment by a successor Owner Trustee pursuant to
this Section, the Servicer shall mail notice of the successor of such Owner
Trustee to all Certificateholders, the Trustee, the Noteholders and the Rating
Agencies. If the Servicer shall fail to mail such notice within 10 days after
acceptance of appointment by the successor Owner Trustee, the successor Owner
Trustee shall cause such notice to be mailed at the expense of the Servicer.
SECTION 10.4. Merger or Consolidation of Owner Trustee. Any
corporation into which the Owner Trustee may be merged or converted or with
which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger,
conversion or consolidation to which the Owner Trustee shall be a party, or any
corporation succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust
business of the Owner Trustee, shall be the successor of the Owner Trustee
hereunder, provided such corporation shall be eligible pursuant to Section 10.1,
without the execution or filing of any instrument or any further act on the part
of any of the parties hereto, anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding;
provided further that the Owner Trustee shall mail notice of such merger or
consolidation to the Rating Agencies.
SECTION 10.5. Appointment of Co-Trustee or Separate Trustee.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, at any time, for the
purpose of meeting any legal requirements of any jurisdiction in which any part
of the Owner Trust Estate or any Financed Vehicle may at the time be located,
the Servicer and the Owner Trustee acting jointly shall have the power and shall
execute and deliver all instruments to appoint one or more Persons approved by
the Owner Trustee and the Insurer to act as co-trustee, jointly with the Owner
Trustee, or separate trustee or separate trustees, of all or any part of the
Owner Trust Estate, and to vest in such Person, in such capacity, such title to
the Trust, or any part thereof, and, subject to the other provisions of this
Section, such powers, duties, obligations, rights and trusts as the Servicer and
the Owner Trustee may consider necessary or desirable. If the Servicer shall not
have joined in such appointment within 15 days after the receipt by it of a
request so to do, the Owner Trustee subject, unless an Insurer Default shall
have occurred and be continuing, to the approval of the Insurer (which approval
shall not be unreasonably withheld) shall have the power to make such
appointment. No co-trustee or separate trustee under this Agreement shall be
required to meet the terms of eligibility as a successor trustee pursuant to
Section 10.1 and no notice of the appointment of any co-trustee or separate
trustee shall be required pursuant to Section 10.3.
Each separate trustee and co-trustee shall, to the extent permitted by
law, be appointed and act subject to the following provisions and conditions:
(i) all rights, powers, duties and obligations conferred or imposed
upon the Owner Trustee shall be conferred upon and exercised or performed by the
Owner Trustee and such separate trustee or co-trustee jointly (it being
understood that such separate trustee or co-trustee is not authorized to act
separately without the Owner Trustee joining in such act), except to the extent
that under any law of any jurisdiction in which any particular act or acts are
28
to be performed, the Owner Trustee shall be incompetent or unqualified to
perform such act or acts, in which event such rights, powers, duties and
obligations (including the holding of title to the Trust or any portion thereof
in any such jurisdiction) shall be exercised and performed singly by such
separate trustee or co-trustee, but solely at the direction of the Owner
Trustee;
(ii) no trustee under this Agreement shall be personally liable by
reason of any act or omission of any other trustee under this Agreement; and
(iii) the Servicer and the Owner Trustee acting jointly may at any
time accept the resignation of or remove any separate trustee or co-trustee.
Any notice, request or other writing given to the Owner Trustee shall
be deemed to have been given to each of the then separate trustees and
co-trustees, as effectively as if given to each of them. Every instrument
appointing any separate trustee or co-trustee shall refer to this Agreement and
the conditions of this Article. Each separate trustee and co-trustee, upon its
acceptance of the trusts conferred, shall be vested with the estates or property
specified in its instrument of appointment, either jointly with the Owner
Trustee or separately, as may be provided therein, subject to all the provisions
of this Agreement, specifically including every provision of this Agreement
relating to the conduct of, affecting the liability of, or affording protection
to, the Owner Trustee. Each such instrument shall be filed with the Owner
Trustee and a copy thereof given to the Servicer and the Insurer.
Any separate trustee or co-trustee may at any time appoint the Owner
Trustee, its agent or attorney-in-fact with full power and authority, to the
extent not prohibited by law, to do any lawful act under or in respect of this
Agreement on its behalf and in its name. If any separate trustee or co-trustee
shall die, become incapable of acting, resign or be removed, all of its estates,
properties, rights, remedies and trusts shall vest in and be exercised by the
Owner Trustee, to the extent permitted by law, without the appointment of a new
or successor trustee.
ARTICLE XI
MISCELLANEOUS
Supplements and Amendments. (a) This Agreement may be amended by the
Depositor and the Owner Trustee, with the prior written consent of the Insurer
(so long as an Insurer Default shall not have occurred and be continuing) and
with prior written notice to the Rating Agencies, without the consent of any of
the Noteholders or, in the event that the Depositor is not the sole
Certificateholder, the Certificateholders, (i) to cure any ambiguity or defect
or (ii) to correct, supplement or modify any provisions in this Agreement;
provided, however, that such action shall not, as evidenced by an Opinion of
Counsel which may be based upon a certificate of the Servicer, adversely affect
in any material respect the interests of any Noteholder or Certificateholder.
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This Agreement may also be amended from time to time,
with the prior written consent of the Insurer (so long as an Insurer
Default shall not have occurred and be continuing) by the Depositor and
the Owner Trustee, with prior written notice to the Rating Agencies, to
the extent such amendment materially and adversely affects the
interests of the Noteholders, with the consent of the Noteholders
evidencing not less than a majority of the Outstanding Amount of the
Notes and, the consent of the Certificateholders evidencing not less
than a majority of the percentage ownership interest in the Trust
(which consent of any Holder of a Certificate or Note given pursuant to
this Section or pursuant to any other provision of this Agreement shall
be conclusive and binding on such Holder and on all future Holders of
such Certificate or Note and of any Certificate or Note issued upon the
transfer thereof or in exchange thereof or in lieu thereof whether or
not notation of such consent is made upon the Certificate or Note) for
the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or
eliminating any of the provisions of this Agreement or of modifying in
any manner the rights of the Noteholders or the Certificateholders;
provided, however, that, subject to the express rights of the Insurer
under the Basic Documents, no such amendment shall (a) increase or
reduce in any manner the amount of, or accelerate or delay the timing
of, collections of payments on Receivables or distributions that shall
be required to be made for the benefit of the Noteholders or the
Certificateholders or (b) reduce the aforesaid percentage of the
Outstanding Amount of the Notes and the Certificates, the Holders of
which are required to consent to any such amendment, without the
consent of the Holders of all the outstanding Notes and Holders of all
outstanding Certificates.
Promptly after the execution of any such amendment or consent, the
Owner Trustee shall furnish written notification of the substance of such
amendment or consent to each Certificateholder, the Trustee and each of the
Rating Agencies.
It shall not be necessary for the consent of Certificateholders, the
Noteholders or the Trustee pursuant to this Section to approve the particular
form of any proposed amendment or consent, but it shall be sufficient if such
consent shall approve the substance thereof. The manner of obtaining such
consents (and any other consents of Certificateholders provided for in this
Agreement or in any other Basic Document) and of evidencing the authorization of
the execution thereof by Certificateholders shall be subject to such reasonable
requirements as the Owner Trustee may prescribe. Promptly after the execution of
any amendment to the Certificate of Trust, the Owner Trustee shall cause the
filing of such amendment with the Secretary of State.
Prior to the execution of any amendment to this Agreement or the
Certificate of Trust, the Owner Trustee shall be entitled to receive and rely
upon an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such amendment is
authorized or permitted by this Agreement and that all conditions precedent to
the execution and delivery of such amendment have been satisfied. The Owner
Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such amendment which
affects the Owner Trustee's own rights, duties or immunities under this
Agreement or otherwise.
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SECTION 11.2. Limitations on Rights of Others. Except for Section
2.7, the provisions of this Agreement are solely for the benefit of the Owner
Trustee, the Depositor, the Certificateholders, the Servicer and, to the extent
expressly provided herein, the Insurer, the Trustee and the Noteholders, and
nothing in this Agreement, whether express or implied, shall be construed to
give to any other Person any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim in the
Owner Trust Estate or under or in respect of this Agreement or any covenants,
conditions or provisions contained herein.
SECTION 11.3. Notices. (a) Unless otherwise expressly specified or
permitted by the terms hereof, all notices shall be in writing and shall be
deemed given upon receipt personally delivered, delivered by overnight courier
or mailed first class mail or certified mail, in each case return receipt
requested, and shall be deemed to have been duly given upon receipt, if to the
Owner Trustee, addressed to the Corporate Trust Office; if to the Depositor,
addressed to National Financial Auto Funding Trust, One Park Place, Suite 200,
000 X.X. 00xx Xxxxxx, Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000; if to the holder of the
Insurer, addressed to Insurer, Financial Security Assurance Inc., 000 Xxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000, Attention: Surveillance Department, Re: National
Auto Finance 1998-1 Trust, 5.88% Automobile Receivables-Backed Notes, Telex No.:
(000) 000-0000, Confirmation: (000) 000-0000, Telecopy Nos.: (000) 000-0000,
(000) 000-0000 (in each case in which notice or other communication to the
Insurer refers to an Event of Default, a claim on the Note Policy or with
respect to which failure on the part of Financial Security to respond shall be
deemed to constitute consent or acceptance, then a copy of such notice or other
communication should also be sent to the attention of the General Counsel and
the Head-Financial Guaranty Group "URGENT MATERIAL ENCLOSED"); or, as to each
party, at such other address as shall be designated by such party in a written
notice to each other party.
Any notice required or permitted to be given to a
Certificateholder shall be given by first-class mail, postage prepaid,
at the address of such Holder as shown in the Certificate Register. Any
notice so mailed within the time prescribed in this Agreement shall be
conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the
Certificateholder receives such notice.
SECTION 11.4. Severability. Any provision of this Agreement that is
prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction,
be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without
invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or
unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render
unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.
SECTION 11.5. Separate Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed
by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed
and delivered shall be an original, but all such counterparts shall together
constitute but one and the same instrument.
SECTION 11.6. Assignments; Insurer. This Agreement shall inure to the
benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective
successors and permitted assigns. This Agreement shall also inure to the benefit
of the Insurer for so long as an Insurer Default shall not have occurred and be
continuing. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, all covenants and
agreements in this Agreement which confer rights upon the Insurer shall be for
the benefit of and run directly to the Insurer, and the Insurer shall be
31
entitled to rely on and enforce such covenants, subject, however, to the
limitations on such rights provided in this Agreement and the Basic Documents.
The Insurer may disclaim any of its rights and powers under this Agreement (but
not its duties and obligations under the Policies) upon delivery of a written
notice to the Owner Trustee.
SECTION 11.7. No Petition. The Owner Trustee (not in its individual
capacity but solely as Owner Trustee), by entering into this Agreement, each
Certificateholder, by accepting a Certificate, and the Trustee and each
Noteholder by accepting the benefits of this Agreement, hereby covenants and
agrees that they will not at any time institute against the Depositor, or join
in any institution against the Depositor of, any bankruptcy, reorganization,
arrangement, insolvency or liquidation proceedings, or other proceedings under
any United States Federal or state bankruptcy or similar law in connection with
any obligations relating to the Certificates, the Notes, this Agreement or any
of the Basic Documents.
SECTION 11.8. No Recourse. Each Certificateholder by accepting a
Certificate acknowledges that such Certificateholder's Certificates represent
beneficial interests in the Trust only and do not represent interests in or
obligations of the Servicer, the Depositor, the Owner Trustee, the Trustee, the
Insurer or any Affiliate thereof and no recourse may be had against such parties
or their assets, except as may be expressly set forth or contemplated in this
Agreement, the Certificates or the Basic Documents.
SECTION 11.9. Headings. The headings of the various Articles and
Sections herein are for convenience of reference only and shall not define or
limit any of the terms or provisions hereof.
SECTION 11.10. GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, WITHOUT REFERENCE TO ITS
CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISIONS, AND THE OBLIGATIONS, RIGHTS AND REMEDIES OF THE
PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE DETERMINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUCH LAWS.
SECTION 11.11. Servicer. The Servicer is authorized to prepare, or
cause to be prepared, execute and deliver on behalf of the Trust all such
documents, reports, filings, instruments, certificates and opinions as it shall
be the duty of the Trust or Owner Trustee to prepare, file or deliver pursuant
to the Basic Documents. Upon written request, the Owner Trustee shall execute
and deliver to the Servicer a limited power of attorney appointing the Servicer
the Trust's agent and attorney-in-fact to prepare, or cause to be prepared,
execute and deliver all such documents, reports, filings, instruments,
certificates and opinions.
32
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Trust Agreement
to be duly executed by their respective officers hereunto duly authorized as of
the day and year first above written.
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,
Owner Trustee,
By:_________________________________
Name:
Title:
NATIONAL FINANCIAL AUTO FUNDING TRUST,
By: CHASE MANHATTAN BANK DELAWARE, not in its individual
capacity but solely as Trustee of Naitonal Financial Auto
Funding Trust,
By:_________________________________
Name:
Title:
Acknowledged and Agreed:
NATIONAL AUTO FINANCE COMPANY, INC.,
Servicer,
By:____________________________
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
Title: Vice Chairman and Treasurer
33
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF CERTIFICATE
NUMBER
1
SEE REVERSE FOR CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
THIS CERTIFICATE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF
1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE IN
RELIANCE UPON EXEMPTIONS PROVIDED BY THE SECURITIES ACT AND SUCH STATE
SECURITIES LAWS. NO RESALE OR OTHER TRANSFER OF THIS CERTIFICATE MAY BE MADE
UNLESS SUCH RESALE OR TRANSFER (A) IS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 3.4 OF THE
OWNER TRUST AGREEMENT PERTAINING TO THE NATIONAL AUTO FINANCE 1998-1 TRUST (THE
"AGREEMENT") AND (B) IS MADE (i) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (ii) IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM THE REGISTRATION
REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS, (iii)
TO THE SELLER OR (iv) TO A PERSON WHO THE TRANSFEROR REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A
QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 144A UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT THAT IS AWARE THAT THE RESALE OR OTHER TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN
RELIANCE ON RULE 144A AND (C) UPON THE SATISFACTION OF CERTAIN OTHER
REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIED IN THE AGREEMENT. NEITHER THE SELLER, THE SERVICER, THE
TRUST NOR THE OWNER TRUSTEE IS OBLIGATED TO REGISTER THE CERTIFICATES UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT OR ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS.
TRUST CERTIFICATE
evidencing a beneficial ownership interest in certain distributions of the
Trust, as defined below, the property of which includes a pool of retail
installment sale contracts secured by new or used automobiles, vans or light
duty trucks and sold to the Trust by National Financial Auto Funding Trust.
(This Certificate does not represent an interest in or obligation of National
Financial Auto Funding Trust or any of its Affiliates, except to the extent
described below.)
THIS CERTIFIES THAT National Financial Auto Funding Trust is the
registered owner of a nonassessable, fully-paid, beneficial ownership interest
in certain distributions of National Auto Finance 1998-1 Trust (the "Trust")
formed by National Financial Auto Funding Trust, a Delaware business trust (the
"Depositor").
OWNER TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
This is one of the Certificates referred to in the within mentioned
Trust Agreement.
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY not in its individual capacity but solely as Owner
Trustee
by ________________________________ Authenticating Agent
by _______________________________
The Trust was created pursuant to a Trust Agreement dated as of
December 15, 1997 (the "Trust Agreement"), between the Depositor and Wilmington
Trust Company, as owner trustee (the "Owner Trustee"), a summary of certain of
the pertinent provisions of which is set forth below. To the extent not
otherwise defined herein, the capitalized terms used herein have the meanings
assigned to them in the Trust Agreement.
This Certificate is one of the duly authorized Certificates designated
as "Trust Certificates" (herein called the "Certificates"). This Certificate is
issued under and is subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of the Trust
Agreement, to which Trust Agreement the holder of this Certificate by virtue of
the acceptance hereof assents and by which such holder is bound. The property of
the Trust includes a pool of retail installment sale contracts secured by new
and used automobiles, vans or light duty trucks (the "Receivables"), all monies
due thereunder on or after Initial Cutoff Date, security interests in the
vehicles financed thereby, certain bank accounts and the proceeds thereof,
proceeds from claims on certain insurance policies and certain other rights
under the Trust Agreement and the Sale and Servicing Agreement, all right, to
and interest of the Depositor in and to the Purchase and Contribution Agreement
dated as of December 15, 1997 between National Auto Finance Company, Inc. and
National Financial Auto Funding Trust and all proceeds of the foregoing.
Under the Trust Agreement, there will be distributed on the 21st day of
each month or, if such 21st day is not a Business Day, the next Business Day
(the "Distribution Date"), commencing on January 21, 1998, to the Person in
whose name this Certificate is registered at the close of business on the
Business Day preceding such Distribution Date (the "Record Date") such
Certificateholder's fractional undivided interest in the amount to be
distributed to Certificateholders on such Distribution Date.
The holder of this Certificate acknowledges and agrees that its rights
to receive distributions in respect of this Certificate are subordinated to the
rights of the Noteholders as described in the Sale and Servicing Agreement, the
Indenture and the Trust Agreement, as applicable.
The holder of this Certificate, by acceptance of this Certificate,
specifically acknowledges that it has no right to or interest in any monies at
any time held pursuant to the Spread Account Agreement or prior to the release
of such monies pursuant to Section 5.7(b) of the Sale and Servicing Agreement,
such monies being held in trust for the benefit of the Noteholders and the
Insurer. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that it is ever determined
that the monies held in the Spread Account constitute a pledge of collateral,
then the provisions of the Sale and Servicing Agreement and the Spread Account
Agreement shall be considered to constitute a security agreement and the holder
of this Certificate hereby grants to the Trust Collateral Agent for the benefit
of the Trustee and the Insurer a first priority perfected security interest in
such amounts, to be applied as set forth in Section 3.03 of the Spread Account
Agreement. In addition, each Certificateholder, by acceptance of its
Certificate, hereby appoints the Seller as its agent to pledge a first priority
perfected security interest in the Spread Account, and any amounts held therein
from time to time to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Trustee and the
Insurer pursuant to the Spread Account Agreement and agrees to execute and
deliver such instruments of conveyance, assignment, grant, confirmation, etc.,
as well as any financing statements, in each case as the Insurer shall consider
reasonably necessary in order to perfect the Trust Collateral Agent's security
interest in the Collateral.
It is the intent of the Depositor, the Servicer, and the
Certificateholders that, for purposes of Federal income taxes, the Trust will be
treated as a branch. In the event that the Certificates are held more than one
Holder, it is the intent of the Depositor, the Servicer, and the
Certificateholders that, for purposes of Federal income taxes, the Trust will be
treated as a partnership and the Certificateholders will be treated as partners
in that partnership. The Depositor and any other Certificateholders, by
acceptance of a Certificate, agree to treat, and to take no action inconsistent
with the treatment of, the Certificates for such tax purposes as partnership
interests in the Trust. Each Certificateholder, by its acceptance of a
Certificate, covenants and agrees that such Certificateholder will not at any
time institute against the Trust or the Depositor, or join in any institution
against the Trust or the Depositor of, any bankruptcy, reorganization,
arrangement, insolvency or liquidation proceedings, or other proceedings under
any United States Federal or state bankruptcy or similar law in connection with
any obligations relating to the Certificates, the Notes, the Trust Agreement or
any of the Basic Documents.
Distributions on this Certificate will be made as provided in the Sale
and Servicing Agreement by the Trust Collateral Agent by wire transfer or check
mailed to the Certificateholder of record in the Certificate Register without
the presentation or surrender of this Certificate or the making of any notation
hereon. Except as otherwise provided in the Trust Agreement and notwithstanding
the above, the final distribution on this Certificate will be made after due
notice by the Owner Trustee of the pendency of such distribution and only upon
presentation and surrender of this Certificate at the office or agency
maintained for the purpose by the Owner Trustee in the Corporate Trust Office.
Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Certificate
set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes
have the same effect as if set forth at this place.
Unless the certificate of authentication hereon shall have been
executed by an authorized officer of the Owner Trustee, by manual signature,
this Certificate shall not entitle the holder hereof to any benefit under the
Trust Agreement or the Sale and Servicing Agreement or be valid for any purpose.
THIS CERTIFICATE SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE
STATE OF DELAWARE, WITHOUT REFERENCE TO ITS CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISIONS, AND THE
OBLIGATIONS, RIGHTS AND REMEDIES OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE DETERMINED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH SUCH LAWS.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Owner Trustee, on behalf of the Trust and not
in its individual capacity, has caused this Certificate to be duly executed.
NATIONAL AUTO FINANCE 1998-1 TRUST
By: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, not in its individual
capacity but solely as Owner Trustee
Dated: January 20, 1998
By:
Name:
Title:
(Reverse of Certificate)
The Certificates do not represent an obligation of, or an interest in,
the Depositor, the Servicer, the Owner Trustee or any Affiliates of any of them
and no recourse may be had against such parties or their assets, except as may
be expressly set forth or contemplated herein or in the Trust Agreement, the
Indenture or the Basic Documents. In addition, this Certificate is not
guaranteed by any governmental agency or instrumentality and is limited in right
of payment to certain collections with respect to the Receivables, as more
specifically set forth herein and in the Sale and Servicing Agreement. A copy of
each of the Sale and Servicing Agreement and the Trust Agreement may be examined
during normal business hours at the principal office of the Depositor, and at
such other places, if any, designated by the Depositor, by any Certificateholder
upon written request.
The Trust Agreement permits, with certain exceptions therein provided,
the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the
Depositor and the rights of the Certificateholders under the Trust Agreement at
any time by the Depositor and the Owner Trustee with the prior written consent
of Financial Security Assurance Inc. (the "Insurer") so long as no Insurer
Default has occurred and is continuing, and with the consent of the holders of
the Notes and the Certificates evidencing not less than a majority of the
outstanding Notes and the percentage ownership interest of the Trust. Any such
consent by the holder of this Certificate shall be conclusive and binding on
such holder and on all future holders of this Certificate and of any Certificate
issued upon the transfer hereof or in exchange hereof or in lieu hereof whether
or not notation of such consent is made upon this Certificate. The Trust
Agreement also permits the amendment thereof, in certain limited circumstances,
without the consent of the holders of any of the Certificates (other than the
Depositor or the Insurer).
As provided in the Trust Agreement and subject to certain limitations
therein set forth, the transfer of this Certificate is registerable in the
Certificate Register upon surrender of this Certificate for registration of
transfer at the offices or agencies of the Certificate Registrar maintained by
the Owner Trustee in the Corporate Trust Office, accompanied by a written
instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Owner Trustee and the
Certificate Registrar duly executed by the holder hereof or such holder's
attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Certificates
evidencing the same percentage ownership interest in the Trust will be issued to
the designated transferee. The initial Certificate Registrar appointed under the
Trust Agreement is Wilmington Trust Company.
Except for Certificates issued to the Depositor, the Certificates are
issuable only as registered Certificates. As provided in the Trust Agreement and
subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Certificates are exchangeable
for new Certificates evidencing the same aggregate percentage ownership interest
in the Trust, as requested by the holder surrendering the same. No service
charge will be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the
Owner Trustee or the Certificate Registrar may require payment of a sum
sufficient to cover any tax or governmental charge payable in connection
therewith.
The Owner Trustee, the Certificate Registrar and any agent of the Owner
Trustee, the Certificate Registrar or the Insurer may treat the person in whose
name this Certificate is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, and
none of the Owner Trustee, the Certificate Registrar nor any such agent shall be
affected by any notice to the contrary.
The obligations and responsibilities created by the Trust Agreement and
the Trust created thereby shall terminate upon the payment to Certificateholders
of all amounts required to be paid to them pursuant to the Trust Agreement and
the Sale and Servicing Agreement and the disposition of all property held as
part of the Trust. The Servicer of the Receivables may at its option purchase
the corpus of the Trust at a price specified in the Sale and Servicing
Agreement, and such purchase of the Receivables and other property of the Trust
will effect a transfer of the Certificates; however, such right of purchase is
exercisable, subject to certain restrictions, only as of the last day of any
Monthly Period as of which the Pool Balance is 10% or less of the Original Pool
Balance.
The Certificates may not be acquired by (a) an employee benefit plan
(as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) that is subject to the provisions of Title
I of ERISA, (b) a plan described in Section 4975(e) (1) of the Code or (c) any
entity whose underlying assets include plan assets by reason of a plan's
investment in the entity (each, a "Benefit Plan"). By accepting and holding this
Certificate, the Holder hereof shall be deemed to have represented and warranted
that it is not a Benefit Plan.
The recitals contained herein shall be taken as the statements of the
Depositor or the Servicer, as the case may be, and the Owner Trustee assumes no
responsibility for the correctness thereof. The Owner Trustee makes no
representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Certificate or of any
Receivable or related document.
Unless the certificate of authentication hereon shall have been
executed by an authorized officer of the Owner Trustee, by manual or facsimile
signature, this Certificate shall not entitle the holder hereof to any benefit
under the Trust Agreement or the Sale and Servicing Agreement or be valid for
any purpose.
ASSIGNMENT
FOR VALUE RECEIVED the undersigned hereby sells, assigns and transfers
unto
PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY
OR OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER
OF ASSIGNEE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Please print or type name and address, including postal zip code, of assignee)
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the within Certificate, and all rights thereunder, hereby irrevocably
constituting and appointing
____________________ Attorney to transfer said Certificate on the books of the
Certificate Registrar, with full power of substitution in the premises.
Dated:
__________________________ *
Signature Guaranteed:
__________________________ *
------------
* NOTICE: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name of the
registered owner as it appears on the face of the within Certificate in every
particular, without alteration, enlargement or any change whatever. Such
signature must be guaranteed by an "eligible guarantor institution" meeting the
requirements of the Certificate Registrar, which requirements include membership
or participation in STAMP or such other "signature guarantee program" as may be
determined by the Certificate Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for,
STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
EXHIBIT B
CERTIFICATE OF TRUST OF
NATIONAL AUTO FINANCE 1998-1 TRUST
This Certificate of Trust of National Auto Finance 1998-1 Trust (the
"Trust"), dated as of December 15, 1997, is being duly executed and filed by
Wilmington Trust Company, a Delaware banking corporation, as trustee, to form a
business trust under the Delaware Business Trust Act (12 Del. Code, ss. 3801 et
seq.).
1. Name. The name of the business trust formed hereby is National
Auto Finance 1998-1 Trust.
2. Delaware Trust. The name and business address of the Trustee of
the Trust in the State of Delaware is Wilmington Trust Company, Xxxxxx Square
North, 0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000-0000. Attn:
Corporate Trust Administration.
3. This Certificate of Trust will be effective December 15, 1997.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being the sole trustee of the
Trust, has executed this Certificate of Trust as of the date first above
written.
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,
not in its individual
capacity but solely as
owner trustee of the Trust.
By:_________________________________
Name:
Title:
EXHIBIT C
FORM OF INVESTMENT LETTER
[LETTERHEAD OF PURCHASER]
[Date]
Wilmington Trust Company, as trustee
of National Auto Finance 1998-1 Trust
Xxxxxx Square North
0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000-0000
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned (the "Purchaser") proposes to purchase the Trust
Certificates issued pursuant to that certain Trust Agreement, dated as of
December 15, 1997 (the "Trust Agreement"), between National Financial Auto
Funding Trust, a Delaware business trust, and Wilmington Trust Company, as
trustee (the "Trustee"). Unless the context or use indicates another or
different meaning, each capitalized term used herein and not otherwise defined
herein shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the Trust Agreement.
1. The undersigned hereby certifies that, as indicated below, the
undersigned is a duly authorized officer of the Purchaser.
2. In connection with the purchase by the Purchaser of the Trust
Certificates, the undersigned hereby certifies to you, and, if you act as broker
for one or more customers, to such customers, that the Purchaser is a "qualified
institutional buyer" as defined in Rule 144A ("Rule 144A") promulgated under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, because the Purchaser is an entity described
in paragraph (a) (1) ___ [refer to applicable subparagraph] of Rule 144A.
3. The Purchaser certifies and acknowledges that it is familiar with
Rule 144A and understands that you and your customers (if you act as a broker
for one or more customers) are relying on the statements made therein.
4. The Purchaser certifies that the Purchaser is purchasing the Trust
Certificates in the capacity marked below (check one):
[ ] The Purchaser certifies that the Purchaser is purchasing the Trust
Certificates for its own account only; or
[ ] The Purchaser certifies that the Purchaser is purchasing the Trust
Certificates for the account of [one] [specify number] other qualified
institutional buyer(s), [each of] which is a "qualified institutional buyer."
5. The Purchaser certifies that it has received from the Trust the
information that satisfies the requirements of paragraph (d)(4) of Rule 144A
(the "Rule 144A Information").
6. The Purchaser certifies that it will comply with all applicable
federal and state securities laws in connection with any subsequent resale by
the Purchaser of the Trust Certificates.
7. The Purchaser understands and acknowledges that the Trust
Certificates have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended, or any state securities laws and may be resold only if (a)
the Trust Certificates are registered pursuant to the provisions of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and such state securities laws, or (b) if an
exemption from such registration is available. The Purchaser understands and
acknowledges that the Trust is not required to register the Trust Certificates
and that any transfer must comply with Section 3.4 of the Trust Agreement. The
Trustee is not obligated to provide Rule 144A Information.
8. The Purchaser additionally represents (check one):
( ) The Purchaser is not a Plan for ERISA purposes.
( ) The Purchaser's acquisition of the Trust Certificates
will not cause the assets of the Trust to be assets of any Plan for ERISA
purposes.
Very truly yours,
[Purchaser]
By:
Name:
Title: